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OF  CALIFORNIA 

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THE 

WORKS 


OF 


CORNELIUS  TACITUS 


WITH  AN 


ESSxVY  ON  lilS  LIFE  AND  GENIUS, 

NOTES,  SUPPLEMENTS,  &c. 


BY 

ARTHUR  MURPHY,  ESQ. 


Priecipuum  munus  annalium  leor,  ne  virtutes  sileantur,  utque  pravis 
dictis  factisque  ex  posteritate  et  infamia  metus  sit. 

Tacitus,  /Vnnales,  iii.  s.  65. 

ANEWEDITIO^V, 

WITH  THE  author's  LAST  CORRECTIONS, 


JN  EIGHT  VOLUMES, 
VOL.  11. 


LoiiDon : 

PRINTED  FOR  JOHN  STOCKDALE,    PICCADILLY. 
I8O7. 


T.  CiUlet,  Piinttr,  Wild-court. 


A/ 

V.  a 


THE 


ANNALS 


OF 


TACITUS, 


BOOK  III. 


VOL.   II.  B 


^^4914 


CONTENTS. 

BOOK    III. 

'.  AG  RIP  PIN  A    arrives      at    Brundushan    ti'ilh    the 
os/ics  of  Germanicus.    Her  journty  to  Rome  :  the  at- 
ieniion  paid   to    her  hij  the  municipal  towns :    the  be- 
haxiour  of  Tiberius  and  Livia.      The  funeral  ceremony. 
VJI.     Drusus  once  more  sent   into  lUj/ricum.     V'lli. 
Piso  arrives  at  Rome:  he  is  accused  of  poisoning  Ger^ 
manicus.     He  pleads  in  his  ozcn  defence  ;  despairs  of 
his  cause,  and  puts  himself  to  death,     XX.  Tcicfarinas 
renews  the    war   in  Africa,  but  is  repulsed  by  Lucius 
Apronius.  XXII.  Lepida  JEmilia  accused  of  adulter)/ 
and  poisoning  :    she  is  tried  and    condemned.     XX  V^. 
The  la'cCj  Papin  Poppcfa,  restrained  and  moderated  by 
Tiberius.     XXV^I.     The    origin    of    laws,    and    their 
changes.     XXX.   Death  of  L.  Volnsius  and  Sallustius 
Crispus,  two  eyninent  men.      XXXI.    Tiberius  retires 
into  Campania.     XXXII.   Tacfarinas  raises  neze  com- 
motions  in  Africa.      Junius    Bhesus  made  proconsul. 
XXXV^II.   Certain   Roman  hnights   condemned  on  the 
law  of  majesty.     ^'!^J^>^W\\.  Commotions  in  Thrace. 
XL.    A    revolt    of   several    cities    in    Gaul.      Julius 
Sacrovir,    and   Julius    Flo r us,  head  the   insurrection  : 
they  are  both  defeated.     XLIX.   C.  Littorius  Priscus, 
a  Roman  knight,  charged,  for  having  written  a  poetn, 
with  a  breach  of  the  law  of  majesty,  and  put  to  death 
by  the  senate,     hi.   Tiberius  affects  to  disapprove :  his 
ambiguous  letters    on  the  occasion.      LII.    Laws  pro- 
posed to    restrain    the    luxury    of   the  times,     hill. 

B   2 


CONTENTS. BOOK    III.. 

Opinion    of   Tiberius    on    that   subject :  the  reform  i\ 
dropt.     LVI.  Drusus  associated  to  his  father  Tiberius 
in  the  tribunitian  power.  LVIII.  The  priest  of  Jupiter 
not  allowed  to  he  chosen  governor  of  a  province.     LX. 
The  number  of  sanctuaries  in   Greece;  their  rights  ex- 
amined, and  regulations    made.      LXVI.    C.    Silanus 
accused  of  extortion,  and  violated  majesti/ :  he   is  con- 
demned   and   banished.      LXXIII.     Tarfarinas    sends 
ambassadors  to  Tiberius,  demanding  lands,  or  denoun- 
cing perpetual  war.     LXXIV.  Bloisus  stops  his  pro- 
gress,  and  takes  his   brother  prisoner      LXXV.   The 
death  of  two  eminent   citizens,    and  their    characters. 
LXXVI.   The    death  of  Juma,  sister  to  M.  Brutus, 
and  widow  of  Cassias  :  her  will  and  funeral. 

These  transactions  include  three  years. 

Years  of  Rome— Of  Christ.  Consuls. 

773  20     1\I.    Valerius   Messata,  C.  Aurelius 

Cotta. 

774  21     Tiberius,  ith  time  ;  Drusus,  his  son, 

9d  time. 

775  22     D.    JIaterius  Agrippa,    C.    Su/pi- 

ejus  Galba. 


THE 

ANNALS 


OF 


TACITUS, 


BOOK  III. 


A  GRIPPINA  pursued  her  voyage  without  bock 
intermission.  Neither  the  risjour  of  the 
winter,  nor  the  rough  navigation  in  that  sea- 
son of  the  year,  could  alter  her  resokition. 
She  arrived  at  the  island  of  Corey ra,  oppo- 
site to  the  coast  of  Calabria.  At  that  place 
she  remained  a  few  days,  to  appease  the  agi- 
tations of  a  mind  pierced  to  the  quick,  and 
not  yet  taught  in  the  school  of  affliction  to 
submit  with  patience.  The  news  of  her  ar- 
rival spreading  far  and  wide,  the  intimate 
friends  of  the  family,  and  most  of  the  officers 
who  had  served  under  Germanicus,  with  a 
number  of  strangers  from  the  municipal 
townS;,  some  to  pay  their  court,  others  car-^ 


►  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   ried  alonsf  v.'ith  the  current,  pressed  forward 
III.     ^  ~  ^  ^ 

in  crowds  to  the  city  of  Brand usium,  the 
nearest  and  most  convenient  port.  As  soon 
as  the  ilect  came  in  sii^ht  of  the  harbour,  the 
sea-coast,  the  walls  of  the  city,  the  tops  of 
houses,  and  every  place  that  gave  even  a 
distant  view,  were  crowded  with  spectators. 
Compassion  throbbed  in  every  breast.  In 
the  hurry  of  their  first  emotions,  men  knew 
not  Avhat  part  to  act :  should  they  receive 
lier  with  acclamations  ?  or  would  silence  best 
suit  the  occasion?  Nothins:  was  settled.  The 
fleet  entered  the  harbour,  not  with  the  ala- 
crity usual  among  mariners,  but  with  a  slow 
and  solemn  sound  of  the  oar,  im})ressing 
cleeper  melancholy  on  every  heart. 

Agrippina  came  forth,  loading  two  of  her 
cliildren  (nj,  with  the  lun  of  Germanicus  in 
her  hand,  and  her  eyes  stcdfastly  fixed  upon 
that  precious  object.  A  general  groan  was 
heard.  [Men  and  women,  relations  and 
strangers,  all  joined  in  one  promiscuous  scene 
of  sorrow,  varied  only  by  the  contrast  be- 
tween the  attendants  of  Agrippina,  and  those 
who  now  received  the  first  impression.  The 
former  appeared  with  a  languid  air  ;  while 

4 


OF    TACITUS. 


the  latfer,  yieklino-  to  the  sensation  of*  the    book 
moment,  broke  out  witli  all  the  vehemence  ^-•'-v--^ 

A.  U.  C. 

of  recent  grief.  Jt?^' 


20? 


II.  Tiberius  had  ordered  to  Brundusiuiti 
two  praetorian  cohorts.  Tlie  magistrates  of 
Calabria,  Apulia,  and  Campania,  had  it  in 
command  to  pay  every  mark  of  honour  to 
the  memory  of  the  emperor's  son.  The  urn 
was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  the  centurions 
and  tribunes,  preceded  by  the  colours,  not 
displayed  with  military  pomp,  but  drooping 
in  disorder,  with  all  the  negligence  of  grief. 
The  fasces  were  inverted.  In  the  colonies 
through  which  they  passed,  the  populace  in 
mourning,  and  the  knights  in  their  purple 
robes,  threw  into  the  flames  rich  perfumes, 
spices  and  garments,  with  other  funeral  of- 
ferings, according  to  the  ability  of  the  place. 
iLven  from  distant  towns  the  people  came  in 
crowds  to  meet  the  procession  ;  they  pre- 
sented victims  ;  they  erected  altars  to  the 
gods  of  departed  souls,  and- by  their  lament- 
ations marked  their  sense  of  the  public  cala- 
Inity.  Drnsus  advanced  as  far  as  Terracina, 
accompanied  by  Claudius  (a),  the  brother  of 
Gennanicus,  and  the  children  of  the  deceased 
prince  that  had  been  left  at  Rome.     Tiie 


.1^ 

THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    consuls,  ]\Iarcus  Valerius  Messala,  and  JMar- 
III. 

cus  Aurelius  Cotta,  who  a  little  before  had 
entered  on  their  magistracy,  with  the  whole 
senate,  and  a  numerous  body  of  citizens, 
went  out  to  meet  the  melancholy  train.  The 
road  was  crowded  ;  no  order  kept,  no  regu- 
lar procession  ;  they  walked,  and  wept,  as 
inclination  prompted.  Flattery  had  no  share 
in  the  business  :  where  the  court  rejoiced  in 
secret,  men  could  not  w^eep  themselves  into 
favour.  Tiberius  indeed  dissembled,  but  he 
could  not  deceive.  Throusfh  the  thin  dis- 
guise  the  malignant  heart  was  seen. 

III.  Neither  the  emperor  nor  his  mother 
appeared  in  public.  They  imagined,  per- 
haps, that  to  be  seen  in  a  state  of  affliction, 
•might  derogate  from  their  dignity  :  or,  the 
better  reason  was,  that  a  number  of  prying 
eyes  might  unmask  their  inmost  sentiments. 
It  does  not  appear,  eitlier  in  the  historians 
of  the  time,  or  in  the  public  journals,  that 
Antonia  f«J,  the  mother  of  German icus, 
took  any  part  in  the  funeral  ceremony. 
Agrippina,  Drusus,  Claudius,  and  the  rest  of 
the  {M'ince's  relations,  are  registered  byliame  ; 
but  of  Antonia  no  mention  is  made.  She 
was   probably  hindered   from  attending  by 


77S. 

AD. 

20. 


OF    TACITUS.  y 

vrant  of  health,  or  the  sensibility  of  a  mother  book 
might  be  unequal  to  so  severe  a  trial.  To  )^^^f^ 
speak  my  own  opinion,  I  am  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  nothing  but  the  emperor  and  his 
mother  could  restrain  her  from  the  last  hu- 
man office  to  her  son.  If  all  three  absented 
themselves,  equal  affliction  might  be  inferred  ; 
and  the  uncle  and  grandmother  might  be 
supposed  to  find  a  precedent  in  the  conduct 
of  the  mother. 

IV.  The  day  on  wiiich  the  remains  of 
Germanic  us  were  deposited  in  the  tomb  of 
Augustus,  was  remarkable  for  sorrow  in  va- 
rious shapes.  A  deep  and  mournful  silence 
prevailed,  as  if  Rome  was  become  a  desert ; 
and,  at  intervals,  the  general  groan  of  a  dis- 
tracted multitude  broke  forth  at  once.  The 
streets  were  crowded  ;  tlie  Field  of  Mars  glit- 
tered with  torches  ;  the  soldiers  were  under 
arms  ;  the  magistrates  appeared  without  the 
ensigns  of  their  authority ;  and  the  people 
stood  ranged  in  their  several  tribes.  All,  with 
one  voice,  despaired  of  the  commonv/ealth  ; 
they  spoke  their  minds  without  reserve,  iii 
the  anguish  of  their  hearts  forgetting  the 
master  that  reicrned  over  them.  Nothin"' 
liowever,  touched  Tiberius  so  near,,  as  tliede- 


JO  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK  cided  affection  of  the  people  for  Agrippiiia, 
who  was  styled  the  ornament  of  her  country, 
the  only  blood  of  Augustus,  and  the  last  re- 
maining model  of  ancient  manners.  With 
hands  upraised,  the  people  invoked  the  gods, 
imploring  them  to  protect  the  children  of 
Germanicus  from  the  malice  of  pernicious 
rnemies. 

V.  There  were  at  that  time  men  of  re- 
flection who  thou<>;ht  the  whole  of  the  cere- 
inony  short  of  that  funeral  pomp  which  the" 
occasion  required.  The  magnificence  dis- 
played in  honour  of  Drusus,  the  father  of  Ger- 
manicus, was  put  in  contrast  to  the  present 
frugality.  *'  Augustus,  in  the  depth  of  Avinter, 
*'  went  as  far  as  Ticinum  to  meet  the  body  ; 
*'  and,  never  quitting  it  afterwards/ entered 
"  the  city  in  the  public  procession.  The  bier 
*'  was  decorated  with  the  ima<2;es  of  the  Clau- 
'^  dian  and  the  Livian  families  :  tears  were 
*'  shed  in  the  forum  ;  a  funeral  oration  was 
*'  delivered  from  the  rostrum  ;  and  every 
"  honour,  as  well  of  ancient  as  of  modern  iii- 
**  vention,  was  ofi'ered  to  the  memory  of  the 
**  deceased.  How*  different  Mas  the  case  at 
"  present  1  Even  the  distinctions  usually 
*'  granted  to  persons  of  illustrious  rank,  were 


OF    TACITUS.  11 

*'  refused  to  German Icus.  The  body  was  book 
'*  committed  to  tiie  funeral  pile  in  a  foreign 
"  land  ;  that  was  an  act  of  necessity ;  but, 
*■'  to  compensate  for  the  first  deficiency,  too 
"  much  could  not  be  done.  One  day's  jour- 
*'  ney  was  all  that  a  brother  performed.  The 
*^  uncle  did  not  so  much  as  go  to  the  city- 
"  c^ate.  Where  now  the  usa^e  of  ancient 
*'  times  r  Where  the  bed  on  wdiich  tlie  ima^'e 
*' of  the  deceased  lay  in  state?  Where  the 
"  verses  in  honour  of  departed  virtue  ?  Where 
"  the  funeral  panegyric,  and  the  tear  that 
*'  embalms  the  dead?  If  real  tears  were  not 
*'  ready  to  gush,  where,  at  least,  were  the 
**  forms  of  grief?  aud  where  the  decency  of 
^'  pretended  sorrow }" 

YI.  Tiberius  was  not  ignorant  of  what 
passed.  To  appease  the  murmurs  of  the  peo- 
ple, he  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  it  was 
observed,  "  that  eminent  men  had  at  various 
"  times  fallen  in  the  service  of  their  coiuitrvj. 
'-*  though  none  were  so  sincerely  lamented  as 
"  Germanicus.  The  regret  shewn  on  thf 
"  present  occasion,  did  honour  to  the  virtue 
"  of  the  people,  and  the  imperial  dignity  ; 
"  but  grief  must  have  its  bounds.  That 
"  which,  might  be  proper  in  private  families^. 


VI 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK 
III. 


A.U.  C. 

77:?. 

A.D. 

SO. 


or  ill  petty  states,  would  ill  become  ttit 
grandeur  of  a  people  fa  J  who  gave  laws  ta 
the  world.  Recent  affliction  must  have  its 
course.  The  heart  overflov.'s,  and  in  that 
discharge  finds  its  best  relief.  It  was  now 
time  to  act  with  fortitude.  Julius  Ca?sar 
fbj  lost  an  only  daughter  ;  Augustus  saw 
his  grandsons  prematurely  snatclied  av.ay  ; 
but  their  grief  was  inward  only.  They  bore 
the  stroke  of  affliction  with  silent  diiinitv. 
If  the  authority  of  ancient  times  were  re- 
quisite, conjunctures  might  be  mentioned. 
in  which  the  Roman  people  saw,  with  un- 
shaken constancy,  the  loss  of  their  generals, 
the  overthrow  of  their  armies,  and  the  de- 
struction of  the  noblest  families.  What- 
ever may  be  the  fate  of  nol)le  lamiiies,  tht; 
connnon wealth  Is  innnortal.  Let  all  re- 
sume their  former  occupations  ;  and,  since 
the  fcj  Megalensian  games  were  near  at 
hand,  let  the  diversions  of  the  season  as- 
suage the  general  sorrow." 


VII.  The  vacation  from  public  business 
was  now  concluded.  The  people  returned  to 
their  ordinary  functions,  and  ])rusus  set  out 
for  the  army  in  Illyricum.  *  At  Rome,  in  the 
mean  time,  all  were  impatient  to   see  Piso 


OF    TACITUS.  13 

brou^lit  to  justice.  That  an  offender  of  such   book 

O  t^  III 

maiinit  ude  should  be  suffered  to  roam  at 
Iari2;e  throusi;h  the  delio^htful  regions  of  Asia 
ajid  Achaia,  roused  the  oeneral  indiiiiiation. 
By  such  contumacy  the  law  was  eluded,  and 
the  evidence  was  growing  weaker  every  day. 
The  fact  vvas,  J\Iartina,  that  notorious  dealer 
in  poison,  whom  Sent i us,  as  has  been  men- 
tioned, ordered  to  be  conveyed  to  Home,  died 
suddenly  at  Brundusium.  Poison  was  said  to 
have  been  found  in  the  tangles  of  lier  hair, 
but  no  trace  of  suicide  appeared  on  any  part 
of  her  body. 

VIII.  Piso,  taking  his  measures  in  time, 
sent  his  son  to  Rome  with  instructions  to  pre- 
possess the  emperor  in  his  favour.    lie  went 
himself  to  seek  an    interview  with  Drusus; 
persuaded  that  he  should  find  the  prince  not 
so  much  exasperated  at  the  loss  of  a  brother, 
as  pleased  Avith  an  event  that  delivered  him 
from  a  rival.     The    son   arrived  at   P^ome. 
Tiberius,  to  shew  that  nothing  was  prejudg- 
ed, gave    the    youth   a  gracious   reception ; 
adding  the  presents  usually  bestowed  on  per- 
sons of  rank  on  their  return  from  the  pro- 
vinces.    Drusus    saw   the    eider   Piso,  and 
frankly  told  him,  that  if  what  was  rumoured 


14  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  abroad  appeared  to  be  founded  in  truth,  the 
charge  deman^jed  his  keenest  resentment  ; 
but  he  rather  hoped  to  iiiid  the  whole  unsup- 
ported by  pr(jof,  tha^  no  man  might  deserve 
to  suffer  for  the  death  of  Germanicus.  This 
answer  was  given  in  pubhc  ;  no  private  audi- 
ence was  admitted.  The  prince,  it  was  ge- 
nerally believed,  liad  his  lesson  from  Tibe- 
rUis  ;  it  being  improbable  that  a  young  man 
of  a  free  and  open  disposition,  unhackneyed 
in  the  ways  of  ])usiness,  could  have  acted 
with  that  guarded  reserve,  which  marked  the 
veteran  in  politics. 

IX.  Pi  so  crossed  the  gulf  of  DalmatiaTfly, 
and,  leaving  his  ships  at  Ancona,  went  for- 
ward to  Picenum.     From  that  place  he  pur- 
sued  his  journey  on   the  Flanuninian  road, 
and  on  his  wa}'  met  a  legion  marching  from 
Pannonia  to  Rome,  in  order  to  proceed  from 
thence  to  serve  in  Africa.  This  incident  was 
variously  canvassed  by  the  people.    A  crimi- 
nal, it  was  said,  presumes  to  join  the  soldiers 
on  their  march,  anrl  even  waylays  them  at 
their  quarters,  to   curiy  favour  with  his  mi- 
iitary    friends.     Piso   heard   of  these   com- 
plaints, and,  to  avoid  suspicion,  or  because 
it  is  the  nuttire  of  guilt  to  be  alujiys  wavering 


0P    TACITUS.  15 

and  irresolute,  at  Narni  lie  embarked  on  the  book 
Nar,  and,  sailing  down  the  Tiber,  landed  on 
the  Field  of  iVIars,  near  the  tomb  of  the 
Ca?sars.  This  was  another  cause  of  popular 
discontent :  in  open  day,  amidst  a  crowd  of 
spectators,  he  and  his  wife  Plancina  made 
their  appearance  ;  the  former  surrounded  by 
a  tribe  of  clients,  and  the  latter  by  a  train  of 
female  attendants ;  all  with  an  air  of  gaiety, 
bold,  erect,  and  confident.  Piso's  house 
overlooked  the  forum ;  preparations  were 
made  for  a  smnptuous  entertainment ;  the 
scene  was  adorned  with  splendid  decorations ; 
and,  from  the  nature  of  the  situation,  no- 
thing could  remain  a  secret.  The  whole  was 
exposed  to  the  public  eye. 

X.  Ox  the  following  day  Fulcinius  Trio 
exhibited  an  accusation  before  the  consuls. 
To  this  proceeding  VitelHus,  Veranius,  and 
others,  who  had  attended  Germanicus  into 
Asia,  made  strong  objections  ;  alleging,  that 
Trio  had  not  so  much  as  a  colour  to  entitle 
him  to  the  conduct  of  the  prosecution.  As 
to  themselves,  they  did  not  mean  to  stand 
forth  as  accusers ;  but  they  had  the  last  com- 
iTiands  of  Germanicus,  and  to  the  facts  with--^ 
in  their  knowledsje  intended  to   appear   as 


16 


THE    ANNALS 


witnesses.  Trio  waved  his  pretensions,  but 
still  claimed  a  riglit  to  prosecute  for  former 
misdemeanors.  That  liberty  was  allowed. 
Application  was  made  to  the  emperor,  that 
the  cause  mi <:>;ht  be  heard  before  himself.  The 
request  was  perfectly  agreeable  to  the  accused 
party,  wlio  was  not  to  learn  that  the  senate 
and  the  people  were  prejudiced  against  him. 
Tiberius,  he  knew,  was  firm  enough  to  resist 
popular  clamr)ur  ;  and,  in  conjunction  with 
Livia,  had  acted  an  underhand  part  in  the 
business.  Besides  this,  the  truth,  he 
thought,  would  be  better  investigated  be- 
fore  a  single  judge,  than  in  a  mixed  assem- 
bly, where  intrigue  and  party  violence  too 
often  prevailed.  Tiberius,  however,  saw  the 
importance  of  the  cause,  and  felt  the  impu- 
tations fffj  thrown  out  against  himself.  To 
avoid  a  situation  so  nice  and  difficult,  he  con- 
sented to  hear,  in  the  presence  of  a  few  se- 
lect friends,  the  heads  of  the  charge,  with  the 
answers  of  the  defendant  ;  and  then  refer- 
red the  Avhole  to  the  consideration  of  thti 
senate. 

XI.  During  these  transactions,  Drusus 
returned  froiji  lllyrirum.  For  the  captivity 
of  3Iaroboduus,  and  the  prosperous  events  of 


OF    TACITUS,  If 

the  preceding  summer,  an  ovation  had  been  book 
decreed  by  the  senate  ;  but  he  chose  to  post- 
pone that  honour,  and  entered  the  city  as  a 
private  man.  Piso  moved  that  Titus  Arrun- 
tius,  T.  Vinicius,  Asinius  Gallus,  ^serninus 
MarceUus,  and  Sextus  Pompeius,  might  be 
assigned  as  advocates  to  defend  his  cause. 
Under  different  pretexts  they  all  excused 
themselves  ;  and  in  their  room,  IMarcus  Le- 
pidus,  Lucius  Piso,  and  Livineius  Regulus,' 
were  appointed.  The  whole  city  was  big  with 
expectation.  It  remained  to  be  seen  how  far 
the  friends  of  Germanicus  would  act  with 
firmness ;  what  resources  Piso  had  left ;  and 
whether  Tiberius  would  speak  his  nuud,  or 
continue,  as  usual,  dark  and  impenetrable. 
No  juncture  had  ever  occurred  in  Mhich  the 
people  were  so  warmly  interested  ;  none,  when 
in  private  discourse  men  made  such  bitter 
reflections ,  and  none,  when  suspicion  har- 
boured such  gloomy  apprehensions; 

XII.  At  the  liext  meeting  of  the  senate, 
Tiberius,  in  a  premeditated  speech,  explained 
his  sentiments.  "Piso,'*  he  observed,  "had 
"  been    the   friend  and  chosen  lieutenant  of 
"  Augustus  ;  and  was  lately  named  with  the 

VOL.    II,  c 


18 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK 
HI. 

A.  U.  C. 

77:5. 

A.  D. 

5^0. 


approbation  of  the  senate,  to  assist  Ger- 
nianicus  in  the  administration  of  the  eastern 
provinces.  WhetUer,  in  that  station,  he 
had  made  it  his  business,  by  arrogance  and 
a  contentious  spirit,  to  exasperate  the 
prince  ;  whether  he  rejoiced  at  his  death  ; 
and,  above  all,  whether  he  was  accessary 
to  it ;  were  questions  that  called  for  a  strict, 
but  fair  enquiry.  If  he,  who  was  only  se- 
cond in  command,  exceeded  the  limits  of 
his  commission,  regardless  of  the  duty 
which  he  owed  to  his  superior  officer ;  if 
he  beheld  the  death  of  Germanicus,  and 
the  loss  which  I  have  suffered,  w^ith  un- 
natural, with  fell  delight ;  from  that  mo- 
ment he  becomes  the  object  of  my  fixed 
aversion,  I  forbid  him  to  enter  my  palace  ; 
he  is  my  own  personal  enemy.  But  the 
emperor  must  not  revenge  the  private 
quarrels  of  Tiberius.  Should  murder  be 
brought  home  to  him,  a  crime  of  that 
magnitude,  which  in  the  case  of  the  mean- 
est  citizen  calls  aloud  for  vengeance,  is 
not  to  be  forgiven  ;  it  will  be  yours,  con- 
script fathers,  to  administer  consolation  to 
the  children  of  Germanicus;  it  Avill  be 
yours  to  assuage  the  sorrow^s  of  an  afflicted 


OF    TACITUS.  t9 

*'  father,  and   a  grandmother  overwhehned  book 

'  ^  III. 

"  with  orief.  v-*^v^^ 

^  A.  u.  e. 

773. 
A.  D. 

''  In  the  course  of  the  enquiry,  it  will  be  20. 
'^  material  to  know  whether  Piso  endea- 
''  voured,  with  a  seditious  spirit,  to  incite 
*'  the  army  to  a  revolt.  Did  he  trybysinis- 
*'  ter  arts  to  seduce  the  affections  of  the 
*'  soldiers  ?  Was  his  sword  drawn  to  recover 
''possesion  of  the  province?  Are  these 
**  things  true,  or  are  they  the  mere  sugges- 
*'  tions  of  the  prosecutors,  with  intent  to 
**  aggravate  the  charge?  Their  zeal,  it  must 
*'  be  owned,  has  been  intemperate.  By  laying 
*^  the  body  naked  at  Antioch,  and  exposing 
*'  it  to  public  view,  what  good  end  could 
"  be  answered  ?  Why  were  foreign  nations 
"  alarmed  with  a  report  of  poison,  when  the 
''  fact  is  still  problematical,  and  remains  to 
*'  be  tried  ?  I  lament  the  loss  of  my  son,  and 
*'  shall  ever  lament  it;  but,  notwithstanding 
all  my  feelings,  it  is  competent  to  the  de-* 
fendant  to  repel  the  charge  ;  he  is  at  liberty 
'^  to  bring  forward  whatever  may  tei.d  to  esta- 
^*  blish  his  innocence,  and  even  to  arraign  the 
*'  conduct  of  Germanicus,  if  any  blame  can 
*'  be  imputed  to  him.     It  is  not  for  me  tg 

c2 


ce 


(( 


20 


THE    ANNALS 


*  abridge  any  part  of  the  defence.     My  af- 

*  fections,  it  is  true,  are  interwoven  with  the 
'^  cause :  but  you  will  not,  for  that  reason, 
'  take  imputations  for  !2;uilt,  nor  alles^ations 

*  for  conclusive  proof.     And  since  either  the 

*  ties  of  consanguinit}',  or  motives  of  friend- 
'  ship,  have  engaged  able  advocates  to  pa- 

*  tronize  the  party  accused,  let  them  exert 
'  theirzeal,  their  talents,  and  their  eloquence. 
'  In  the  same  manner  I  exhort  the  prosecu- 
'  tors  :  let  them  act  with  the  same  constancy, 

*  with  C([ual  ardour.  The  only  distinction 
'  which  the  prerogative  of  the  prince  can  grant, 
'  is,  that  the  cause  shall  be  tried  in  this  court, 
'  and  not  in  the  Ibrum  ;  in  the  presence  of 

*  the  senate,  not  before  the  common  tribu- 

*  nals.     In  all  things  else  let  the   forms   of 

*  law  be  observed.  The  tears  ofDrusus, 
'  and  my  own  afflictions,  are  foreign  to  the 
'  question  ;  let  no  man  regard  our  interest  : 
'  throw  it  out  of  the  case,  and  discard  from 
'  your  minds  the  little  calumnies  that  may 
'  glance  at  myself." 


XIII.  Two  days  were  allowed  to  the  pro- 
secutors to  support  their  charge,  six  to  pre- 
pare the  defence,  and  three  for  hearing  it. 
Fulcinius  Trio  bci^an.     The  sjround  betook 


OF    TACITUS.  21 

was  the  avarice  and  tyranny,  with  whicli  Piso    book 
conducted  himself,  durini^  his  administration  "-^^^^ 

,  A.  U.  C. 

in  Spain.  This  was  starting  from  a  period  J^^^^ 
too  remote.  Tliougli  convicted  on  that  point,  ^' 
the  defendant  might  still  repel  the  present 
charge ;  and  if  acquitted,  he  might  be  guilty  of 
higher  crimes.  Fulcinius  was  followed  by  Ser- 
va^us,YeraniusandVitellius;  all  three  exerting 
themselves  with  equal  zeal,  but  the  latter  with 
supei'oir  eloquence.  The  points  insisted  upon 
were — "  That  Piso,  incited  by  malice  to  Ger- 
"  manicus,  and  his  own  ambitious  views,  dif- 
*'  fused  a  spirit  of  licentiousness  through  the 
"  Roman  army.  lie  corrupted  the  soldiery, 
*'  and  suffered  the  allies  of  Rome  to  be  plun- 
*'  dered  with  impunity.  In  consequence  of 
*'  those  pernicious  acts,  the  vile  and  profligate 
*'  hailed  him  father  of  the  legions.  But 
"  his  conduct  was  hostile  to  all  j^ood  men, 
*^  and  more  directly  to  the  friends  of  Germa- 
"  nicus.  To  fill  the  measure  of  his  iniquity, 
"  he  had  recourse  to  magic  arts,  and  the 
•'  prince  was  destroyed  by  poison.  Piso  and 
''  his  wife  Plancina  were  known  to  have  as- 
''  sisted  in  superstitious  rites  and  impious 
''  sacrifices.  And  yet  the  prisoner  did  not 
"  stop  there  :  he  was  guilty  of  rebellion  ; 
•^  he   appeared  in  arms  against  the  state  ; 


22  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK 


*'  and,  before  he  could  be  brought  to  jus- 
*'  tice  as  a  citizen,  he  was  conquered  as  an 
"  enemy.'* 

XIV,  The  defence  in  every  article,  except 
that  which  related  to  the  crime  of  poison, 
was  weak  and  ineffectual.  The  charge  of 
debauching  the  soldiers  by  bribery,  the  ra- 
pacity of  his  creatures,  and  the  insults  offer- 
ed to  Germanicus,  were  stubborn  facts,  and 
could  not  be  denied.  The  crime  of  poison- 
ing seemed  to  be  sufficiently  answered.  It 
was  left  on  weak  ground  by  the  managers  of 
the  prosecution.  All  they  had  to  urge  in 
support  of  that  article,  was  a  bare  allegation, 
that  Piso,  at  an  entertainment  given  by  Ger- 
manicus, being  placed  on  a  couch  above  the 
prince,  had  contrived  with  his  own  hai^ds  to 
mingle  poison  with  the  victuals.  An  attempt 
of  the  kind,  in  the  midst  of  servants  not  his 
owp,  under  the  eye  of  numbers,  and  in  the 
very  presence  of  Germanicus,  seemed  im* 
probable,  and  indeed  absurd.  To  refute  it 
altocrether,  Piso  made  a  tender  of  his  slaves 
to  be  questioned  on  the  rack,  demanding,  at 
the  same  time,  that  the  domestics  of  Germa^^ 
nicus,  who  waited  that  day  at  table,  should 
undergo  the  like  examination.    But  nothing 


OF    TACITUS.  23 

made  an  impression  on  the  judges.     For  dif-  book 
ferent   reasons    they  were    all    implacable ;  "-^v^ 
Tiberius,  on  account  of  the  war  levied  in     J^s. 

'  A.  D. 

Syria  :  the  senators,  from  a  full  persuasion  ^''• 
that  treachery  had  a  hand  in  the  death  of 
Germanicus.  A  motion  was  made  for  the 
production  of  all  letters  written  to  the  cri- 
minal by  Tiberius  and  Livia.  This  was  op- 
posed with  vehemence,  not  only  by  Piso,  but 
also  by  the  emperor.  The  clamours  of  the 
populace,  who  surrounded  the  senate- house, 
were  heard  within  doors.  The  cry  was,  if 
Piso  escaped  by  the  judgment  of  the  fathers, 
he  should  die  by  the  hands  of  the  people. 
They  had  already  seized  his  statues,  and,  in 
their  fur}^,  dragged  them  to  the  place  of  exe- 
cution called  the  Gemonia3  C^Jy  ^^'ith  intent 
to  break  them  into  fragments.  By  order  of 
Tiberius  they  were  rescued  out  of  their  hands. 
Piso  was  conveved  home  in  a  litter,  ijuarded 
by  a  tribune  of  the  pra::torian  bands  :  but 
whether  that  officer  was  sent  to  protect  him 
from  the  populace,  or  to  see  justice  executed, 
was  left  to  conjecture  and  vague  reports, 

XV.  Plancina,  no  less  than  her  hus- 
band, Avas  an  object  of  public  detestation  ; 
but    protected   by   court  favour,  she   was 


L'4:  THE  ANiJAL$. 

BOOK   tlioiiaht  to  be  out  of  the  reach  of  her  enemies. 
III. 

What   Tiberius  would    do    Avas    vuicertain. 

AVhile  she  supposed  herself  involved  in  thp 
fate  of  Piso,  without  a  gleam  of  better  hope, 
her  language  was  that  of  a  woman  willing  to 
share  all  chances  with  her  husband,  and,  if 
he  was  doomed  to  fall,  determined  to  perish 
with   him.     Having,    in  the  mean  time,  by 
the    interest  of  Livia,  obtained  her  pardon, 
she  began  to  change  her  tone,  and  pursue  a 
separate  interest.  Finding  himself  thus  aban-^ 
doned,  Piso  despaired  of  his  cause.     With- 
out further  struggle,  he  intendecl  to  resign 
himself  to  his   fate  ;  but,  by  the    advice  of 
his  sons,  lie  re$un^ed  his  courage,  and  once 
more  appeared  before  the  senate.     The  pro- 
secution was  renewed  with  vigour  ;  the  fathers 
spoke  in  terms  of  acrimony  ;  every  thing  was 
adverse ;  and  the    prisoner  plainly  saw  that 
his  fate  was  decided.    In  this  distress  nothing 
affected  him  so  deeply  as  the  behaviour  of 
Tiberius,  who  sat  in  sullen  silence,   neither 
provoked  to  anger,  nor  softened  by  compas- 
sion, with  his  usual  art  stifling  every  emotion 
of  the  heart.  Piso  was  ((inducted  back  to  his 
hoijse.     He    there  wrote  a  few  lines,  in  ap- 
peal arxe  preparing  his  defence  for  the  en^ 
i>uing  day,  and  having  scaled  the  paper,  de- 


OF    TACITUS.  25 


III. 

A  U.  C. 

773. 

A.  E 

20. 


iivered  it  to  one  of  his  freedmeii.    The  usual    book 
attentions  to  his  person   filled  up  his  time 
till,  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  his  wife  having    ^"^ 
left  the    room,   he   ordered  the  door  to   be 
made    fast.     In  the  morning    he  was  found 
dead  ;   his   throat  cut,  and  his  sword   lying 
near  him  on  the  ground. 

XVI.  I  REMEMBER  to  liave  heard  from 
men  advanced  in  years,  that  a  bundle  of  pa- 
pers, not  produced  at  the  trial,  was  often  seen 
in  the  hands  of  Piso,  containing,  as  his  friends 
attested,  the  letters  of  Tiberius,  full  of  in- 
structions hostile  to  Germanic  LIS.  These 
documents  would  have  transfeired  the  "uilt 
to  the  emperor  ;  but  by  the  delusive  promises 
of  Sejanus,  they  were  all  suppressed.  It  was 
also  confidently  said  that  Piso  did  not  lay 
violent  hands  on  himself,  but  died  by  tiie 
stroke  of  an  assassin.  For  the  truth  of  these 
^.ssertions  I  do  not  mean  to  be  answerable ; 
I  state  the  facts  as  I  heard  them  related  by 
men  Avith  whom  I  conversed  in  ni}^  youth  ■ 
and  the  anecdotes  of  such  inen  maj'  be  deemed 
worthy  of  attention^ 

Tiberius  attended  the  next  meeting  of  the 
enate.      He  there  complained,  with  seeming 


26  THE    AKNALS 

BOOK    anxiety,  that  the  death  of  Piso  was  intended 

HI. 

to  reflect  dishonour  on  liimself.  He  sent  for 
the  freedman,  who  had  received  the  paper 
sealed  up,  as  ah'eady  stated,  and  enquired 
particularly  about  his  master  ;  how  he  passed 
the  last  of  his  days  ?  and  what  happened  in 
the  course  of  the  ni^ht  ?  The  man  answered 
in  some  instances  with  caution,  and  in  others 
off  his  guard .  The  emperor  produced  Piso's 
letter,  and  read  it  to  the  senate.  It  was 
nearly  in  the  following  words;  "  Oppressed 
*•' by  the  malice  of  my  enemies,  and  falling 
*'  under  a  load  of  imputed  guilt,  without  a 
*'  friend  to  espouse  the  truth,  or  shelter  in- 
*'  nocence,  I  call  the  immortal  gods  to  wit- 
*•  ness,  that  to  vou,  C.Tsar,  I  have  through  life 
* '  preserved  mj^  faith  inviolate.  For  your  mo- 
*'  therl  have  ever  felt  the  sincerest veneration. 
*'  I  conjure  you  both  to  take  my  sons  under 
your  protection.  Cneius  Piso  is  innocent. 
Nothing  that  happened  in  Asia  can  be  im- 
puted to  him,  since  he  remained,  during 
**  the  whole  time,  at  Rome.  His  brother 
*'  jNIarcus,  when  I  returned  to  the  province 
*'  of  Syria,  wasstrcnuousagainst  the  measure. 
'•  AVould  to  Heaven  that  I  had  yielded  to 
*'  the  advice  of  a  young  man,  and  that  my 
''  authority  had  not  silenced  all  opposition. 


OF    TACITUS.  27 

*' For  him  I   offer  my  fervent   prayers;  let    book 

^'  not    the  errors  of  tlie  father   brins^  down  ^-*^v-^ 

^  A.  u.c. 

''  ruin  on   the   son.     If  in    tlie    course  of     l'^^- 

A.  D. 

^'  five-and-forty  years  I  have  been  devoted  ^°' 
to  your  service;  if  Augustas  made  nie  his 
colleague  in  the  consulship  faj  ;  if  the  re- 
''  membrance  of  our  early  friendship  can  now 
*'  avail ;  by  all  those  ties  I  implore  your 
"^  mercy  for  my  unhappy  son.  It  is  the  re- 
*'  quest  of  a  dying  lather-;  the  last  I  shall 
"  ever  make."  He  made  no  mention  of 
Plancina. 

XVII.  Tiberius  declared  his  opinion, 
that  Marcus  Piso,  beino;  under  the  control 
of  his  father  faj^  ought  not  to  be  answerable 
for  the  civil  war.  He  mentioned  the  re«;ard 
due  to  an  illustrious  house,  and  even  lamented 
the  unhappy  lot  of  the  deceased,  though 
brought  upon  him  by  misconduct.  He  spoke 
in  favour  of  Plancina,  but  with  an  air  of  em- 
barrassment, conscious  of  his  own  duplicity. 
The  intercession  of  his  mother  was  a  colour 
for  the  part  he  acted  ;  but  thinking  men  were 
by  no  means  satisfied.  On  the  contrary,  their 
hatred  of  Livia  was  more  embittered  than 
ever.  They  exclaimed  without  reserve, 
*'  fSliall  the  grandmother  admit  to  her  pre- 


2B 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK 

111. 

A.  U.  C. 

77:5. 

A.  D. 

2U 


'  sencc  a  woman  stained  with  the   blood    of 
'  her  grandson?  Shall  she  converse  in  familiar 
freedom  with   a  murderess  ?  Must  she  rc^ 
ceive   to  her  arms  an  abandoned  woman, 
and  by  her  influence  rescue  her  from  thef 
vengeance  of  the  senate  ?  The  laws  protect 
the  meanest  citizen;  but  in  the  case  of  Ger- 
manicus  they  have   lost  their  visfour.  Vi- 
tellius  and  Yeranius  i)oured  forth  their  elo- 
quence in  the  cause  of  a  prince  cut  off  by 
treachery,  while  the  emperor  and  his  mo- 
ther side  with  Plancina.     That  pernicious 
woman  may  now  with  impunity  continue 
her  trade  of  poisoning  ;  she  may  practise 
her  detestable  arts  on  the  life  of  Agrippina 
and  her  children  ;   she  may  proceed  in  her 
iniquity,  and,  with  the  blood  of  an  illus- 
trious, but  \mhappy  famil}'',  glut  the  rage 
of  a  dissembling   uncle  and   a  worthless 
grandmother."    For    two    days    together 
Rome  was  amused  with  a  mock-trial  of  Plan- 
cina.    Tiberius,  in  the  mean  time,  exhorted 
Piso\s  sons  to  stand  forth  in  defence  of  their 
nothcr.     'J'he  charge  was  opened  ;  the  wit- 
nesses Mere  examined,  and  the  orators  spared 
leither  zeal  nor  eloquence  in  support  of  the 
prosecution :  no  reply  was  made;  tlie  wretch- 
ed condition  of  a   helpless  woman  began  to 


OF  TA,CITU3.  29 

operate  on    the  fecliiio;s  of  the  fathers,  and    book 
preiiulice  was  melted    into   pity.      Aurehus ^^"v-o 
Cotta.  the  consul,  was  the  fn*st  that  o'ave  his     '"'^ 
vote,  according  to  a  settled  rule  (h)  whenever     '^^ 
the  question  was  put  by  the  emperor.     The 
opinion     of    Cotta   was,     that    the     name 
of  Piso  should   be    razed  out  of  the  public 
registers;  that  part  of  his  estate  should  be 
confiscated,    and  the  rest  granted  to  Cneius 
Piso,  upon   condition  that  he   changed  the 
family  name ;  and  that  his  brother  j\Iarcus, 
divested  of  all  civil  honours,  should  be  con- 
demned to    banishment   for  the  space  of  tea 
years,  with  a  sum,  however,  of  fifty  thousand 
great  sesterces  for  his  support.    In  deference 
to  the  solicitations  of  Livia,  it  was  proposed 
to  o;rant  a  free  pardon  to  Piancina. 

XVIII.  This  sentence,  in  many  parti- 
culars, was  mitigated  by  Tiberius.  The  fa- 
uiily  name,  he  said,  ought  not  to  be  abo- 
lished, while  that  of  ]\Iarc  Antony,  who 
appeared  in  arms  against  his  country,  as  well 
as  that  of  Julius  Antoniusf«),  who  by  his 
jntri";ues  dishonoured  the  house  of  Auaiustus, 
subsisted  still,  and  figured  in  the  llonian 
annals,  Marcus  Piso  was  left  in  possession 
of  his  civil  dignities  and  his  father's  fortune. 


30  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  Avarice,  as  has  been  already  observed,  was 
not  the  passion  of  Tiberius.  On  this  occa- 
sion, the  disgrace  incurred  by  the  partiaUty 
sliewn  to  Planciua,  softened  his  temper,  and 
made  him  the  more  wilhno-  to  extend  his 
mercy  to  the  son.  Valerius  ]\Iessalinus 
moved,  that  a  golden  statue  might  be  erected 
in  the  temple  of  Mars  the  Avenger.  An  altar 
to  Vengeance  was  proposed  by  Ciecina  Se- 
verus.  Both  these  motions  were  over-ruled 
by  the  emperor.  The  principle  on  which 
he  argued  was,  that  public  monuments,  how- 
ever proper  in  cases  of  foreign  conquest, 
were  not  suited  to  the  present  juncture. 
Domestic  calamity  should  be  lamented,  and 
as  soon  as  possible  consigned  to  oblivion. 

Messalinus  added  to  his  motion  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  Tiberius  and  Livia,  to  Antonia, 
Agrippina,  and  Drusus,  for  their  zeal  in 
bringing  to  justice  the  enemies  ofGermani- 
cus.  The  name  of  Claudiiis  (b)  was  not  men- 
tioned. Lucius  Asprenas  desired  to  know 
whether  that  omission  was  intended.  The 
consequence  was,  that  Claudius  was  inserted 
in  the  vote.  Upon  an  occasion  like  this,  it  is 
impossible  not  to  pause  for  amonient,  to  make 
^reflection  that  naturallv  rises  out  of  the  sub- 


OF    TACITUS.  SI 

ject.    ^yiien  we  review  what  has  been  doinj^   book 
•^  _       ^      III. 

in  the  world,    is  it  not   evident,   that  in  all  "^"r^ 
transactions,  whether  of  ancient  or  of  modern     ""l: 

'  A.  p. 

date,  some  strange  caprice  of  fortune  turns  ^• 
all  human  wisdom  to  a  jest?  In  the  juncture 
before  us,  Chiudius  figured  so  little  on  the 
stage  of  public  business,  that  there  was  scarce 
a  man  in  Rome,  who  did  not  seem,  by  the 
voice  of  fame  and  the  wishes  of  the  people, 
designed  for  the  sovereign  power,  rather  than 
the  very  person,  whom  fate,  in  that  instant, 
cherished  in  obscurity,  to  make  him,  at  a 
future  period,  master  of  the  Roman  world. 

XIX.  The  senate,  a  [eiv  days  afterwards, 
on  the  motion  to  Tiberius,  granted  the  sacer- 
dotal dignity  of  Vitellius,  Veranius,  and  Str- 
vi'eus.  Fulcinius  Trio  received  a  promise  of 
the  emperor's  favour  in  his  road  to  honours, 
but  was  at  the  same  time  admoiiished  to  re- 
strain the  ardour  of  his  genius,  lest,  by  over- 
heated vehemence,  he  mjoht  mar  his  elo- 
quence.  In  this  manner  ended  the  enquiry 
concerning  the  death  of  Germanicus  ;  a  sub- 
ject which  has  been  variously  represented, 
not  only  by  men  of  that  day,  but  by  all  sub- 
sequent writers.  It  remains,  to  this  hour, 
the  problem  of  history.     A  cloud  for  ever 


32  THE    ANNALS 


III. 

A.  U.  C 
773. 
A.  D 


BOOK  haniis  over  the  most  important  transactions, 
whilr,  on  the  one  hand,  credulity  adopts^ 
'^'^'•^^  for  fact  the  report  of  the  day  ;  and,  on  the 
^°-  other,  politicians  warp  and  disguise  the  truth: 
between  both  parties  two  different  accomits 
go  down  from  age  to  age,  and  gain  strength 
with  posterity. 

Drusus  thought  it  time  to  enjoy  the  honours 
of  a  public  entry.  For  this  purpose  he  went 
out  of  the  city,  and  having  assisted  at  the 
ceremony  of  the  auspices,  returned  with  the 
splendour  of  an  ovation.  In  a  few  days  after 
he  lost  his  mother  Vipsania  f«J;  of  all  the 
cliildren  of  Agrippa,  the  only  one  that  died  a 
natural  death.  The  rest  were  brought  to  a 
tragic  end  ;  some,  as  is  well  known,  by  the 
murderer's  stroke ;  and  others,  as  is  gene- 
rally believed,  by  poison  or  by  famine. 

XX.  In  the  same  year  Tacfarinas,'t]icNu^ 
midian  chief,  whom  we  have  seen  defeated  by 
Camillus  in  a  former  campaign,  once  more 
commenced  hostilities  in  Africa.  He  began  by 
sudden  incursions ;  depending  for  his  safety 
on  tlie  rapidity  of  his  flight.  Emboldened  by 
success,  he  attacked  several  towns  and  vil- 
lages, and  went  off  enriched  with  plunder. 


OF    TACITUS.  ,  53 

At  length,  at  a  place  near  (he  river  Pagida  book 
faj,  he  hemmed  in  a  IlDnian  coliort,  and 
held  them  closely  besieged.  Decrius,  a  gaK 
Jant  and  experienced  ollicer,  who  command- 
ed the  fort,  considered  the  blockade  as  a  dis- 
piace  to  the  Roman  arms.  Havino;  exhorted 
iiis  men  to  face  the  enemy  on  tlie  open  plain, 
iie  marched  out,  and  formed  in  order  of 
battle.  At  the  first  onset  the  Barbarians 
made  an  impression.  The  coliort  gave  way. 
Decrius  braved  every  danger.  Amidst  a 
volley  of  darts,  he  opposed  his  person  to  stop 
the  flight  of  his  men  ;  he  called  aloud  to  the 
standard-bearers,  chargijig  them  not  to  in- 
cur the  slianre  and  infamy  of  yielding  to  an 
.undisciplined  rabble,  a  vile  collection  of  run- 
aways and  deserters.  His  efforts  were  inef- 
fectual. Covered  with  v/ounds,  and  one  eye 
pierced  through,  he  still  persisted  with  un- 
daunted valour,  till  at  last,  abandoned  by 
Jiis  troops.,  he  died  braveiv  sword  in  hand. 

XXI.  Lucius  Apronius,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Cam  ill  us  a;o  proconsul  of  Africa,  re- 
ceived the  account  of  this  defeat  with  indiii- 
jiation.  The  disgrace  of  the  Roman  arms 
touched  liim  more  than  the  glory  that  ac- 
crued to  the  llarbarians.  He  resolved  to  ex- 

VOL.    li.  p 


M 


THE   ANXAL5 


BOOK  piate  the  infamy  by  a  dreadful  punishinent, 
founded,  indeed,  upon  ancient  precedent, 
and  recorded  in  history  ;  but  in  modern 
times  fallen  into  disuse.  He  ordered  the 
cohort,  Avhose  beliaviour  had  been  so  i^no- 
minious,  to  be  decimated  fa  J  :  every  man 
upon  whom  the  lot  fell,  died  under  repeated 
bloAvs  of  the  cudgel.  The  consequence  of 
this  severity  was,  that  a  body  of  live  hun- 
dred veterans,  stationed  in  garrison  at  Thala 
fbj,  maintained  their  post  against  the  at- 
tempts of  Tacfarinas,  and  even  routed  the 
troops  lately  flushed  with  victory.  In  this 
-action  Rufus  llelvius,  a  common  soldier,  ob- 
tained the  glory  of  saving  the  life  of  a  Roman 
citizen,  lie  was  rewarded  by  Aproniuswith 
a  spear  and  collar.  Tiberius  ordered  the 
civic  crown  to  be  added,  observing,  at  the 
same  time,  that  the  ])roconsul  had  the  power 
of  granting  that  reward:  yet  he  censured 
the  omission  without  asperity,  pleased  that 
something  was  reserved  for  himself. 

Tacfiirinas,  finding  his  Numidians  unwill- 
ing, after  their  defeat,  to  undertake  a  siege, 
clianged  his  plan  of  operations.    He  chose  a 
rovino*  kind  of  war  ;  if  the  Romans  advanced 
(piick  in  retreat,  and,  as  soon  as  the  pursuit 


OF  TACITUS.  So 

was  over,  Avlieeling  round  to  liang  upon  the    ^ook 
rear.  By  this  desultory  mode  of  skirmishing,  ^]^^^^ 
the  wily    African    baffled  and  fatigued  the    ^^^• 
lloman  army,  till  having  ravaged  the  country      ^°* 
near  tlie  sea-coast,  and  loaded  his  men  with 
booty,  he  was  obliged  to  pitch  his  camp.  In 
that  situation  Apronius  Ca^sianus,  son  of  the 
proconsul,  at  the   head  of  the  cavalry,  the 
auxiliary  coliorts,    and  a  body  of  light  in- 
fantry draughted  from  the  legions,  gave  bat- 
tle to  the  Numidian,  and,  havinc^  o-ained  a 
complete  victory,  obliged  him  to  fly  to  his 
wilds  and  deserts. 

XXII.  At  Rome,  in  the  mean  time,  a 
prosecution  was  carried  on  against  Lepida 
fa  J,  a  woman  of  illustrious  birth,  descended 
from  the  Aunilian  family,  and  ^reat  grand- 
daughter both  to  Sylla  and  Pompey.  She 
was  married  to  Publius  Quirinius,  a  citizen 
of  threat  v,ealth,  far  advanced  in  years,  but 
without  children  to  inherit  his  estate.  The 
wife  ^vixs  charged  with  an  attempt  to  pass  a 
supposititious  child  for  his  legitimate  issue. 
Other  articles  were  added  ;  such  as  adultery, 
dealing  in  poison,  and  consultations  with 
Chaldean  astrologers  concernino;  the  fate  of 
the  imperial  larnily.     Her  brother.  Manius 

D  2 


35 


THE    AXNALS 


HI. 


BOOK  Lepidus,  undertook  lier  defence.  Quiriiuiis 
had  repudiated  her  ;  and  yet,  after  his  di- 
vorce, attacked  lier  with  implacable  resent- 
ment. This  circumstance,  notwithstanding 
the  guilt  and  infamy  of  Lepida,  rendered  her 
an  object  of  compassion.  In  the  course  of 
the  proceeding,  the  real  sentiments  of  Tibe- 
rius eluded  all  discovery.  Fluctuatiiig  be- 
tween opposite  passions,  he  mixed  and  shift- 
ed mercy  and  resentment  in  such  quick  suc- 
cession, that  wliere  he  would  fix  it  was  im- 
possible to  guess.  lie  desired  that  the  crime 
of  violated  majesty  might  be  thrown  out  of 
the  case,  and,  in  a  short  time  after,  ordered 
Marcus  Servilius,  of  consular  rank,  and  the 
rest  of  the  witnesses,  to  prove  the  very  facts 
over  which  he  pretended  to  draw  a  veil.  He 
removed  the  slaves  of  Lepida,  avIio  had  been 
placed  under  a  military  guard,  to  the  custody 
(bj  of  the  consuls  ;  nor  would  he  suffer  them 
to  be  examined  under  the  torture  upon  any 
point  that  concerned  himself  or  his  family- 
He  exempted  Dru^us,  though  consul  elect, 
from  the  rule,  that  required  him  to  give  the 
fust  vote.  This  by  some  was  considered  as 
a  true  republican  principle,  that  the  fathers 
miii'ht  iiwe  their  voices,  free  and  uninflu- 
cnced  by  tlie  example  of  the  prince.    Others 


OF    TACITUS.  37 

called  it  a  stroke  of  sul^tle  cruelty  ;  it  being    book 

''  ^      III. 

by  no  means  probable,   that  Drusiis  would  ^^f^p^ 
decline  to  speak  in  order  of  time,  if  a  sentence    ^"^ 
of  condemnation  had  not  been  already  lixed.     ^'^* 


XXIII.  The  celebration  of  the  public 
games  suspended  the  trial  for  some  days.  In 
that  interval,  Lepida,  accompanied  by  a  train 
of  illustrious  women,  entered  the  theatre  faj: 
in  a  pathetic  strain  she  invoked  her  ancestors  ; 
she  called  on  Pompey  in  liis  own  theatre 
(that  monument  of  grandeur),  and  addressed 
herself  to  the  imai>;es  of  that  illustrious  man. 
Her  grief  made  an  impression  ;  tears  gushed 
from  the  eyes  of  the  people,  and,  indignation 
soon  succeedino',  bitter  execrations  were 
thrown  out  against  Quirinins  ;  "  a  superan- 
"  nuated  dotard,  sprung  from  a  mean  ex- 
"  traction,  to  whom,  in  the  decline  of  life,  a 
*'  noble  dame,  formerly  intended  to  be  the 
''  wife  of  Lucius  Civsar,  and,  by  consequence, 
"  the  grand-daughter  of  Augustus,  wasjoin- 
"  ed  in  wedlock,  that  lie,  good  man  !  might 
"  raise  heirs  to  liis  estate."  Notwithstanding 
these  clamours,  the  slaves  of  I^cpida  were 
put  to  the  question.  Their  evidence  amount- 
ed to  full  proof  of  her  guilt ;  and,  on  the  mo- 
tion of  Rubellius  Blandus,   she  y/as  forbid 


38  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  the  use  of  fire  and  water.  Even  Drusiis  gave 

III.       _  ^ 

^Jl^'^^  his  assent,  though  a  milder  sentence  would 
J^^  have  been  agreeable  to  the  wislies  of  a  con- 
~^'  siderable  number.  By  the  interest  of  Scau- 
rus,  her  former  husband,  Avho  had  a  daughter 
b}^  her,  the  confiscation  of  her  property  was 
remitted.  At  the  close  of  the  proceedi'.igs, 
Tiberius  informed  the  fathers,  that  he  harl 
examined  the  slaves  of  Quirinius,  and  their 
evidence  left  him  no  room  to  doubt  of  a 
formed  design  to  poison  her  husband. 

XXIV.  The  families  of  the  first  conse- 
quence at  Rome  began  to  feel,  with  regret, 
that  their  numbers  were  thinned  by  repeated 
misfortunes.  The  Calpurnian  house  had 
lately  suffered  by  the  loss  of  Piso,  and  the 
iEmilian  was  impaired  by  the  condemnation 
of  Lepida.  In  order  to  make  some  amends, 
Decius  Silanus  was  restored  to  the  Junian 
family.  Tlie  particulars  of  his  case  seem  to 
merit  some  attention.  The  life  of  Augnstus 
was  variously  che([uered :  he  was  successful 
against  his  country,  and  in  his  family  often 
unhappy.  The  intrigues  of  his  daui^htcr  f((J 
and  grand-daughter  embittered  his  da}  s.  11^ 
ordered  them  both  to  depart  from  Rome,  and 
punished  the   CbJ  adulterers  with   death  or 


OF    TACITUS.  39 

banishment.     To  the  conunerce  natural  be-    book 

IH. 

tween  tiic  sexes,  that  emperor  gave  the 
name  of  sacrilege  and  violated  majesty  ;  and, 
under  colour  of  this  new  device,  forgot  at 
once  the  lenit}-  of  former  times,  and  even  the 
laws  enacted  by  himself.  But  the  tragic 
issue  that  befel  oftenders  of  this  kind,  with 
other  memorable  events  of  that  period,  shall 
be  the  subject  of  a  distinct  history,  if,  when 
tlie  Avork  now  in  hand  is  fmished,  my  life 
shall  be  protracted  in  health  and  vigour  for  a 
new  undertakin2[. 

With  regard  to  Silanus,  who  had  a  criminal 
connection  with  the  "land-dauiihter  of  Au- 
gustus  ;  his  offence  drew  npon  him  no  greater 
vengeance,  tlian  a  total  exclusion  from  the 
friendship  of  the  emperor.  That  exclusion, 
as  Silanus  understood  it,  implied  a  sentence 
of  banishment.  lie  retired  into  voluntary 
exile,  and  never,  till  the  reign  of  Tiberius, 
presumed  to  apply,  either  to  the  prince  or 
senate,  for  permission  to  ret  inn  to  his  coun- 
try. For  the  favour  extended  to  him,  lie 
was  indebted  to  the  weight  and  inlluence  of 
his  In'other,  ^Marcus  Silanus,  who  added  to 
his  hi^h  rank  the  fame  of  disti)ii>uis]ied  elo- 
quence.  ^larcus  prevailed  with  the  emperor, 


40  THE   ANNALS, 

EooK  and,  in  a  full  mectiii"'  of  the  senat<^,  express-™ 
'-'"^^    '  cd  his  sense  of  the  obliii^ation.     Tiberius  aii- 

A.  U.  C.  '  ,  .  . 

"^^^  swered,  tliat  '  ■  the  return  of  Deeius  Silaiius, 
^^'  "  after  a  long  absence,  was  an  event  agreeable 
*'  to  all.  It  was,  however,  no  more  than  his 
■'  leo;al  ri^lit.  No  law  had  abridired  his  li- 
*'  berty  ;  lio  decree  of  the  senate  was  in  force 
*"'  against  him.  And  yet  it  ^\as  impossible  for 
*'  the  prince  to  forget  th<i  wrongs  done  to 
"  Augu,-5tiis  ;  nor  could  the  return  of  Silanus, 
*'  either  eft'ace  his  crime,  or  cancel  what  liad 
*'  been  settled  by  an  injured  emperor."  Front 
this  time,  Deciua  Siianus  lived  at  Rome,  a  pri- 
vate citizeh,  without  honours,  or  preferment. 

XXV.  TiiE  next  care  of  the  senate  was 
to  soften  the  rigour  of  the  law  Pa])ia  Poppa^a 
(d)  >  a  law  made  by  Augustus  in  the  decline 
of  life,  when  the  (hj  .]u!ian  institutions, 
were  found  ineffectual.  The  pohcy  was,  to 
enforce,  by  additional  sanctions,  tlie  penal-r 
ties  of  celibacy,  and  th.ereby  increase  the 
revenue.  iVlarriage,  however,  Avas  not 
brought  into  llishion.  To  be  without  heirs 
(cj  was  still  considered  as  a  state  that 
j»ave  lireat  ad\nnta<'es.  Prosecutions  Inul- 
tiplied,  and  nund)ers  were  every  day 
;\vuwii    into    danger       Informers    were    tlie 


OF  TACITUS, 


41 


interpreters  of  justice  ;  and  chicane  and  ma-    book 

lice  \vroiii>lit  the  ruin  of  faniiUes.    The  com-  ' — '-^-' 

^^  ,  A.  u.  a 

munitv  laboured,  at  first,  under  the  vices  of  J']- 
the  times,  and,  afterwards,  under  tiie  snares  20. 
of  law.  From  this  reflection  if  we  here  go 
back  to  trace  the  origin  of  civil  institutions, 
and  the  progress  of  that  complex  system 
v.hich  has  grown  up  to  harass  mankind,  tlie 
digression  will  not  be  incurious,  nor  altoge- 
ther foreign  to  our  purpose, 

XXVI.  In  the  early  ages  of  the  world  fa  J, 
men  led  a  life  of  innocence  and  simplicity. 
Free  from  irregular  passions,  they  knew  no 
corruption  of  manners  ;  and  void  of  guilt, 
they  had  no  need  of  laws.  In  the  natural 
emotions  of  the  heart  they  found  incitements 
to  virtue,  and  rewards  were  unnecessary. 
Having  no  inordinate  desires,  they  coveted 
nothing,  and  pains  and  penalties  were  un- 
known. In  process  of  time,  when  all 
equality  was  overturned,  and,  in  the  place  of 
temperance  and  moderation,  ambition  and 
violence  began  to  trample  on  the  rights  of 
man;  then  monarchy  Avas  established,  in 
several  r.ations  unlimited,  absolute,  and 
flourishing  at  this  hour.  Some  states,  in- 
<leed,  in  their  nrst  formatioji,  or,  at  least. 


THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  soon  aftei-  thry  had  madr  an  experiment  of 
« — ^-J  kinos,  v)referred  a  <2;over!unent  by  law  ;  and 
"3.  ■  law,  in  its  origin,  was,  like  tlie  manners  of 
"sa'  the  age,  plain  and  simple.  Of  the  several 
political  constitutions  known  in  tlie  world, 
that  of  Crete,  established  by  ]\Iinos  ;  that  of 
Sparta,  by  lACurgus;  and  tluit  of  Athens, 
by  Solon,  have  been  chiefly  celebrated.  In 
flic  latter,  however,  we  sec  simplicity  giving 
li'av  to  comphcation  and  refinement.  At 
Home,  the  reign  of  Romulus  was  the  reign  of 
despotism.  His  will  was  the  law.  Xifma 
Pompilius  introduced  the  rites  and  ceremo- 
nies of  religion,  and,  by  establishing  forms 
of  woi^hip,  strengthened  the  civil  union. 
Some  improvements  were  added  by  Tulkis 
Ilostilius,  and  some  by  Ancus  IMartius.  But 
the  true  legislator  was  Servius  Tullius  ;  the 
author  of  that  best  policy,  which  made  even 
kings  the  su])jects  of  the  laws. 

XXVII.  After  the  expulsion  of  Tarquin, 
the  people  to  secure  their  rights  from  power- 
ful factions  in  the  senate,  and  to  prevent  the 
efiects  of  civil  discord,  were  obliged  to  modify 
the  constitution  by  new  regulations.  With 
this  view,  the  decemvirs  were  created.  Those 
magistrates,  by  adopting  from  the  wisdom  of 


OF  TACITUS.  4S 

other  nations  wliat  appeared  worthy  of  selec-    eodk 
tion,   framed   a  body   of  laws,    entitled  the  ^^'"Jp^ 
Twelve  Tables.  'All  sound  legislation  ended     l\ 
there.     It  is  true  tliat,  after  that  time,  new     ^' 
statutes  were  enacted  ;  but,   if  we  except  a 
few,  suggested  by  the  vices  of  the  times,  and 
passed  on  the  spur  of  the  occasion,  they  were, 
for  tlie  most  part,   made  in   tlie  conflict  of 
parties,  and   for  tiie  worst  of  purposes;   in 
some  instances,  to  lay  open  to  ambition  tlie 
road    to    honours  ;    in  others,  to    work  the 
downfal  of  illustrious  citizens  :  and,  in  ge- 
neral, with   pernicious  motives.     Hence  the 
Gracchi  f«J,  and   the  Saturnini,  those  tur- 
bulent  demagogues  ;  and  hence  tlie  violent 
spirit  of  Drusns  f/»J,tliat  famous  partizan  of 
the  senate,  Avho,  by  largesses  and  open  bri- 
bery, supported  tlie  claims  of  the  nobility, 
an<l  by  specious  promises  induced  the  allies 
of  Home  to  espouse  his  cause,  deceiving  them 
at  iirst,  and,  between  the  seu-ate  and  the  po- 
pidar  leaders,  making  tiiem  in   the  end,  the 
lud)ble  of  contendinu;  factions.  Hence  a  wild 
variety  of  contradictory  laws.     In  the  social 
warfrj,  which  involved  all  Italy,  and  the  ci- 
vil connnotions  that  followed,  new  ordinances 
\rerc  g^itablished,  but  with  the  same  conten- 


44 


'HE    A  XX  A  IS 


III. 


BOOK  tiotis  spirit,  till  at  length  Lucius  Sylla  fdj, 
the  dictator,  by  repealing  several  laws,  by 
ameudiiig  olhers,  and  b}^  organizing  a  code  of 
his  own,  o;ave  a  check  to  the  rai^e  of  le<>is- 
lation..  But  the  respite  was  but  short.  The 
fiery  genius  of  Lepidusf^J  preferred  a  num- 
ber of  seditious  decrees,  and  the  tribunes  ffj 
of  the  people,  resuming  their  ancient  powers, 
alarmed  the  state  with  tumuh,  and  pcjpidar 
commotions.  The  i^eneral  i^ood  was  no  loui^fer 
thought  of:  new  characters  appeared  in  the 
great  scene  of  puhhc  business,  and  new  sta-- 
tutes  were  enacted.  In  a  corrupt  repubhc 
vice  increased,  and  laAvs  were  niuUiplied. 

XXVIII.  PoMPEY  at  length  (a J,  in  his 
tliird  consulship,  was  chosen  to  correct  abuses, 
and  introduce  a  reformation  of  maimers.  His 
remedies  were  more  pernicious  than  the  mis^ 
chief.  lie  made  laws,  and  broke  them;  he 
liad  recourse  to  arms,  and  by  force  of  arms 
was  ruined.  From  that  time,  during  a  period 
of  twenty  years,  the  rage  of  civil  discord 
threw  everv  tiling"  into  confusion.  Justice  was 
silent ;  the  manners  nere  corrupted  ;  vice  tri- 
umphed with  impunity,  and  virtue  met  with 
aure  destruction.     At  length,  Augustus  (bj- 


A.  D. 


OF    TACITUS.  45 

in  ijis  sixth  consulship,  findiiii^  himself  esta-   book 
blished    without    a  rival,  repealed  the  acts '-^^''^^ 

^  A.  U.   C. 

passed  by  himself  during  the  triumvirate,  and  ^'•''• 
Ji'ave  a  new  svsteni.  useful  indeed  to  the  pub- 
lie  ti-anqui'iiit},  but  subversive  of  the  con- 
stitution ;  lit  only  for  the  government  of  one. 
The  chains  of  slavery  were  closely  riveted 
(cj,  and  spies  of  state  were  appointed.  To 
excite  and  animate  the  dilij^ence  of  those  new 
OiFicers,  the  law  PapiaPoppi"eaheld  forth  re- 
wards. By  that  law,  tlie  people,  under  the 
fiction  of  universal  parent,  were  declared 
heirs  to  the  vacant  possessions  of  such  as 
lived  in  celibacy,  regardless  of  the  privileges 
annexed  to  the  paternal  character.  To  en- 
force this  regulation,  informers  were  encou" 
ra<^ed.  The  s'enius  of  those  men  knew  no 
bounds :  they  liarassed  the  city  of  Rome, 
and  stretched  their  harpy- hands  ail  over 
Italy.  Wherever  they  found  a  citizen,  they 
found  a  niiui  to  be  plundered.  Numbers 
were  ruined,  and  all  were  struck  witli  terror. 
To  stop  tlie  progress  of  the  mischief,  Ti]>e- 
riiis  ordered  a  set  of  conmiissioners,  to  be 
drawn,  by  lot ;  five  of  consular  I'arik,  five 
pri\3torians,  aud  a  like  number  from  the  body 
of  the  senate.  Under  their  direction  tJie 
Vaw  was  explained  ;  ensnaring  subtleties  were 


46  Tin:    ANNALS 

BOOK    removed  ;  and  the  evil,  though  not  ^.vlioll^ 
cured,  Avas  palliated  for  the  present. 

XXIX.  Aboi'T  this  time  Nero,  tJie  eldest 
son  of  Germanie'iis,  -was  entering  on  the  state 
of  manhood.  Tiberius  recommended  him  to 
the  favour  of  tlie  senate,  adding  his  request, 
that  the  young  prince  might  be  excused 
from  serving  the  office  of  the  vii>intivirate 
C^J,  with  leave,  five  years  earlier  than  the 
time  limited  by  law,  to  stand  candidate  for 
the  qua:storship.  As  a  precedent  for  this  in- 
dulgence he  cited  the  example  of  Augustus, 
who  had  nvade  the  like  application  for  him- 
self and  his  brother  Drusus.  The  proposal 
was  a  mockery,  and,  accordingly,  men  heard 
it  will  I  derision.  Even  in  the  reign  of 
Augustus  there  were,  in  all  probability,  lunn- 
bers  who  laughed,  in  secret,  at  the  new  way 
of  conniianding  by  petition.  The  artifice, 
however,  was  at  that  time  not  impolitic  : 
the  grandeur  c)f  the  Caesars  was  in  its  in- 
fancy, and  th.e  forms  of  the  old  re})ublic  v/ere 
still  remembered.  ^\'illi  ngard  to  the  request 
made  by  Tiberius,  it  may  l)e  observed,  that 
the  relation  between  the  step-father  and  the 
sons  of  his  wife  did  not  create  so  tender  an. 
interest,  ns  the  natural  alYeclionof  a  grand- 


OF  TACITUS.  4/ 

father  for  lils  2;randson.  The  senate  not  only    book 
liranted  what  was  asked,  but  added  a  seat  in  ^-'^^^^^ 

^  ^  '  A.  U,  C 

tlie  pontilical  college.  The  dav,  on  which  r^ 
the  young  prince  made  his  first  appearance  in  -^- 
the  forum,  was  distinguished  by  a  lars^ess  to 
the  people,  wdio  saw  with  pleasure  a  son  of 
Germanicus  rising  to  the  state  of  manhood. 
His  marriage  with  Julia  fbj,  the  daughter 
of  Drusus,  was  soon  after  celebrated,  and 
diffused  a  general  satisfaction.  But  another 
match,  then  in  contemplation,  between  tlie 
son  fcj  of  Claudius  and  a  daughter  of  Se- 
janus,  was  received  by  the  people  vrith  ever}'" 
mark  of  discontent.  !Men  objected,  tlrat 
the  lustre  of  the  imperial  family  would  be 
tarnished,  and  the  ambition  of  Sejanus,  al- 
ready suspected,  would,  when  strengthened 
by  that  connection,  tower  above  the  rank  of 
a  citizen. 


XXX.  Towards  the  close  of  the  year 
died  two  men  of  distin^uisiied  cliaracter. 
namely,  Lucius  Volusius,  and  Sallustius  Cris- 
pus.  The  former  was  of  an  ancient  family, 
at  all  times  highly  honoured,  though  never 
raised  above  the  praetorian  rank.  The  de- 
-ceased  was  the  first  of  his  house  that  rose  to 
the  consulship.  When  it  was  afterwards  ne- 


4S  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   cessarv  to  rc-o-ulate  the  classes  of  tlie  eques- 

III.  J  r« 

•^^v^^  triaii   order,  he  Avas,  for  that  purpose,  acl- 
A.  u.  c.  ^      ^ 

7';l-     vanced  to    the  (H"nity   of  censor.     In    tne 

A.  D.  "'         '' 

^-  course  of  his  time  he  accumulated  an  immo- 
derate fortune,  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
that  rank  and  splendor,  in  which  his  family- 
flourished  after  him. 

The  ancestors  of  Crispus  were  of  eques^ 
trian  rank  f^J,  B}'  the  maternal  line,  he  was 
grand  nephew  to  Cains  Sallustius,  tlie  ac- 
complished Roman  historian.  Being  adopt- 
ed by  that  illustrious  writer,  he  assumed  the 
family  name  ;  and,  though  the  road  to  ho- 
nours lay  open  before  him,  tlie  example  of 
Maecenas  was  the  model,  on  which  he  form- 
ed his  conduct.  Never  aspiring  to  the  rank 
of  senator,  he  lived  in  a  degree  of  splendor, 
that  eclipsed  the  consular  magistrates,  and 
even  the  commanders  of  armies,  who  liad 
triumphed  for  their  victories.  The  austerity 
of  ancient  maimers  was  not  to  his  taste.  In 
Jiis  apparel  and  ecpiipage  he  was  gay  and 
costly  ;  in  his  style  of  living,  fond  of  ele- 
gance, and  even  of  luxury.  Ihiiting  in  his 
character  opposite  qualities,  he  was  at  once 
a  man  of  pleasure,  and  a  statesman  of  con^ 
.summatc  ability.     The  vigour  of  his  mind» 

6 


OF    TACITUS.  49 

thou«;]i  often  relaxed  in  indolence,  M^as  such    book 

^  .  in. 

as  qualified  him  for  the  most  arduous  affairs. 

When  occasion  called^  he  returned  to  busi- 
ness with  an  elastic  spring,  that  shewed  he 
gained  new  strength  from  inactivity.  While 
Maecenas  lived  and  flourished,  Crispus  acted 
the  second  character.  Succeed  in  2;  afterwards 
to  that  minister,  he  took  the  lead  in  the  ca- 
binet, the  first  in  favour,  and  in  all  secret 
transactions  the  confidential  manager.  Agrip- 
pa  Posthumus  was  cut  off  under  his  direc- 
tion. In  the  decline  of  life  he  retained  the  ap- 
pearance of  power,  without  the  reality  ;  a  re- 
verse of  fortune  which  had  been  felt  by  Maece- 
nas, and  which,  by  some  fatality,  is  the  usual 
end  of  all  who  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  a  court* 
Between  the  prince  and  his  favourite,  weari- 
ness and  satiety  succeed  to  the  ardour  of  af- 
fection, and  both  begin  to  wean  themselves 
from  each  other ;  the  prince,  when  the  power 
of  giving  is  exhausted  ;  and  the  minister, 
when  avarice  has  no  more  to  crave. 


XXXI.  The  year,  which  we  are  now  to  a.  u.  c. 

•'  774. 

open,  stands  distinguished  by  thejoint  consul-     a.  d. 
ship  of  the  father  and  the  son  ;  Tiberius,  for 
the  fourth  time,  and  Drusus,  the  second.    It 

VOL.  II.  E 


r 


50  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    is  true  that,  two  years  before,  Germanicus 
' — ^- — '  shared  the  same  honour;  but  their  union  was 

A  U.  C. 

'7*-     not  founded  in  sincerity  and  mutual  esteem. 

A.  D.  *^  •         1      1      I  1    1  • 

21-  Tiu'ouiihout  that  year  Tiberuis  belield  his 
colltiaii;ue  witli  a  mahgnant  eye.  The  tie  of 
afliiiitv  between  them  was  not  so  close  as  the 
present.  Tiberius  had  scarce  entered  on  the 
office  in  conjunction  witli  Drusus,  when,  pre- 
tending to  recruit  his  health,  he  removed  into 
Campania,  perhaps  even  then  meditating  that 
long  retreat,  which  was  afterwards  his  plan  of 
life:  perhaps,  intending  to  give  Drusus  the  ' 
honour  of  discharging*;  the  consular  functions, 
without  the  assistance  of  his  father.  An  inci-  u: 
dent  soon  occurred,  in  itself  of  little  moment,  -'^ 
but  by  the  heat  of  party  it  kindled  to  a  flame, 
and  afforded  to  the  young  consul  an  oppor- 
tunity to  gain  the  popular  esteem.  A  com- 
plaint was  made  to  the  senate  by  Domitius 
Corbulo,  formerly  one  of  tiie  praetors,  stating 
that  Lucius  Sylla,  a  youth  of  illustrious  rank, 
had  refused,  in  a  late  shew  of  gladiators,  to 
give  place  to  his  superior  in  point  of  years. 
^  The  grave  and  elderly  were  on  the  side  of 
Corbulo.  They  saw  the  rights  of  age  in- 
fringed, and  the  example  of  ancient  manners 
treated  with  contempt.     Mamercus  Scaurus 


OF    TACITUS. 


51 


and  Lucius  Arruntius  undertook  the  defence  of  book 
Sylla,  and  with  the  rest  of  his  relations  formed 
a  party  in  his  favour.  A  warm  debate  en- 
sued. The  practice  of  good  times  was  stated, 
and  several  decrees,  enforcing  the  reverence 
due  to  age,  were  cited  as  decisive  authority. 
Drusus,  by  a  qualifying  speech,  allayed  the 
ferment.  Corbulo  declaied  himself  satisfied 
with  the  apology  made  by  Mamercus  Scaurus, 
who  was  uncle  as  well  as  father-in-law  faj  to 
Sylla,  and,  besides,  the  most  eloquent  orator 
of  his  time.  That  business  being  thus  ami- 
cably settled,  the  state  of  the  public  roads  was 
made  the  subject  of  debate  by  the  same  Cor- 
bulo. The  highways,  he  said,  were  in  a  bad 
condition  throughout  Italy,  neglected  every 
where,  and  in  some  places  impassable.  He 
imputed  the  mischief  to  the  fraudulent  prac- 
tices of  contractors,  and  the  inattention  of  the 
magistrates.  He  was  desired  to  superintend 
the  business  ;  but  the  advantage,  whatever  it 
was,  that  accrued  to  the  pulilic,  did  not 
counterbalance  the  ruin  of  individuals,  who 
suffered,  both  in  reputation  and  fortune,  by 
the  harsh  decisions  of  Corbulo,  and  the  con- 
fiscation of  their  effects. 

E  2 


52  THE    ANNALS 

XXXII.  In  a  short  time  after,  the  seriate 
received  dispatches  from  Tiberius,  with  intel- 
ligence that  Africa  was  again  alarraed  by  the 
incursions  of  Tacfarinas.    The  occasion,  the 
emperor  said,  required  a  proconsul  of  military 
talents,  and  vigour  equal  to  the  fatigues  of 
war ;  but  the  choice  was  left  to  the  judgment  of 
the  fathers.  Sextus  Pompeius  seized  this  op- 
portunity to  launch  out  in  a  bitter  invective 
against  Marcus  Lepidus,  whom  he  styled  a 
man  void  of  courage,  destitute  of  fortune,  a 
disgrace  to  his  ancestors,  and  by  no  means  fit 
to  be  entrusted  with  the  government  of  x\sia 
(a)^  which  had  then  fallen  to  his  lot.  The  se- 
nate was  of  a  different  opinion.     Wjiat  was 
called  want  of  courage,  according  to   them, 
was  mildness  of  disposition ;  his  indigence  was 
a  misfortune,  not  a  disgrace;  nor  could  it  be 
deemed  a  fair  objection  to  a  man,  who,  in 
narrow  circumstances,  supported  tlie  dignity 
of  his  ancestors,  and  lived  in  honourable  po- 
verty, witli  an  unblemished  character.     He 
was   therefore  declared   proconsul    of  Asia. 
The  choice  of  a  governor  to    command  in 
Africa  was,  by  a  decree,  reserved  for  the  de- 
cision of  the  emperor. 


21. 


OF    TACITUS.  53 

XXXIII.  In  the  course  of  the  debate,  a  ^^^^ 
motion  was  made  by  Ca^cina  Severus,  that  ^XTu^ 
the  governors  of  provinces  should  be  no  longer  a.'d. 
accompanied  by  their  wives.  Pie  prefaced 
the  business  with  repeated  declarations,  that 
between  him  and  his  wife,  who  had  brought 
him  six  children,  the  truest  harmony  sub- 
sisted ;  and  yet  the  law,  which  he  now  pro- 
posed, had  ever  been  the  rule  of  his  own  con- 
duct ;  insomuch,  that  in  a  series  of  forty  years^ 
during  which  time  he  had  served  as  man}-  cam- 
paigns, his  wife  always  remained  in  Italy.  "It 
''  was  with  good  reason,"  he  said,  "  that  in 
*'  former  times,  women  were  neither  allowed  to 
**  visit  the  allies  of  Home,  nor  to  have  any  in- 
"  tercourse  with  foreign  nations.  The  softer 
'^  sex  brought  many  inconveniences  ;  ui  times 
'^  of  peace  they  were  prone  to  luxury,  and  in 
'^  war,  easily  alarmed.  A  female  train,  in  the 
•'  march  of  a  Roman  army,  presented  an 
^'  image  of  savage  manners  :  it  had  the  ap- 
**^  pearance  of  Barbarians  going  to  battle, 

*'  That  women  are  by  nature  feeble,  aiid 
''  soon  overcome  by  hardship,  was  not  the 
'^^  only  objection  :  other  qualities  entered  into 
**  the  female  character,  such  as  pride,  revenge. 


54  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    ^'  and  cruelty,  and  ambition.     The  love  of 
''  power  is  the  predominant  passion  of  the 
*'  sex,  and  in  the  exercise  of  it  they  knoAV  no 
*'  bound:^.  They  appear  in  the  ranks  ;  they 
^'  march  with  the  troops  ;  and  tliey  entice  the 
''  centurions  to  their  party.     We  have  seen, 
''  in  a  late  instance,  a  woman  fa  J  reviewing 
*'  the  cohorts,  and  directhi2;  the  exercise  of  the 
''  le<2;ions.     Have,  we  forgot,  that  as  often  as 
*'  rapacity  and  extortion  have  been  laid  to  the 
*'  account  of  the  husband,  the  wife  has  proved 
*'  the  principal  offender?  She  no  sooner  en-. 
**  ters  the  province,  than  her  party  is  formed. 
The  unprincipled  attend  to  pay  their  ho- 
mage. She  becomes  a  politician  ;  she  takes 
the  lead  in  business,  and  gives  a  separate 
*'  audience.     The  husband  and  the  wife  ap- 
"  pear  in  public  with  their  distinct  train  of 
attendants.     Two  (bj  tribunals  are  esta- 
blished, and  the  female  edict,  dictated  by 
'*  caprice  and  tyranny,  is  sure  to  be  obeyed. 
"  13y   the  Oppian  fcj  and  other  laws,  the 
*^  wife  was  formerly  restrained    within    due 
''  bounds  ;    at  present,  all  decorum    is  laid 
•  '  aside;  women  give  the  law  in  families  ;  they 
'■'  preside   in   the    tribunals  of  justice,  and 
*^  ar>piie  to  be  connnandcrs  in  chief," 


a 
(( 


<( 

({ 


OF    TACITUS.  55 

XXXIV.  To  this  speech  a  small  number  book 
assented  ;  the  rest  received  it  ^vith  a  murmur 
of  disapprobation.  The  business,  they  said, 
was  not  in  form  before  the  fathers,  and  a 
question  of  that  importance  ouglit  not  to  be 
drawn  into  debate  by  a  self-created  censor  like 
Ca3cina.  liis  argument  was  answered  by  Va- 
lerius i\Iessalinus  ;  a  man  who  derived  from 
his  father  Messala  fa  J,  the  celebrated  orator, 
no  inconsiderable  share  of  eloquence.  *'  The 
"  rigour,"  he  said,  "  of  ancient  manners  has 
^'  taken  a  milder  tone.  The  enemy  is  not  at 
*'  the  gates  of  Rome,  and  tlie  provinces  have 
*'  no  hostile  intentions.  In  favour  of  the  ten- 
"  dersex  some  concessions  ought  to  be  made, 
"  especially  since  it  is  now  known  by  experi- 
"  ence  that  the  wife,  so  far  from  beinga  bur- 
"  then  to  the  province,  is  scarcely  felt  in  the 
**'  private  oeconomy  of  the  husband.  She  is  no 
"  more  than  a  sharer  in  his  splendour  and  dig- 
nity. In  time  of  peace  what  danger  from  her 
presence?  War,  indeed,  calls  for  vigour ;  and 
'^  men  should  2;o  unencumbered  to  the  field. 
"  When  the  campaign  is  over,  where  can  the 
''  general  so  well  repose  from  toil  and  labour 

o  J. 

*'  as  in  the  bosom  of  a  wife,  whose  tenderness 
*'  relieves  his  pain,  and  sweetens  every  care?. 


a 


a 


lb  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   ''  But  women,  it  has  been  said,  are  prone  to 
III.  ,  .  .  . 

''  avarice  and  ambition  ;  what  shailbesaid  of 
''  the  magistrates  ?  Have  they  been  always 
''  free  from  irregular  passions  ?  and  if  not,  will 
"  it  follow  that  men  are  to  be  no  Ion 2;er  trusted 
''  with  the  administration  of  the  provinces  ? 
"  We  are  told,  that  the  vices  of  the  wife  have 
*'  their  influence  on  the  maimers  of  the  lius- 
*'  band:  and  is  it  therefore  true,  that  in  a 
''  life  of  celibacy  we  are  sure  of  fmding  un- 
"  blemished  honour? 

"  The  Oppian  laws  were  formerly  deemed 
"  expedient:  the  policy  of  the  times  reqiured 
"  them;  but  the  manners  have  varied  since, 
*'  and  with  the  manners  the  law  has  been  mo^ 
**  dified.  We  strive  in  vain,  under  borrowed 
^'  terms,  to  hide  our  own  defects :  the  truth  is, 
*'  if  the  wife  exceeds  the  bounds  of  the  female 
*'  character,  the  blame  falls  on  the  husband, 
*'  In  two  or  three  instances  we  may  have  seen 
*'  that  the  men  were  weak  and  too  uxorious  ; 
*'  and  shall  we  for  that  reason  take  from  the 
*'  commander  of  armies  the  most  endearin<; 
^'  comforts  of  marriage,  the  mutual  joy  in 
**  prosperity,  and,  in  affliction,  the  balm  that 

heals  his  sorrows  ?  By  the  restraint  now 


ti 


OF    TACITUS.  57 

*-'  proposed,  the  weaker  sex  will  be  left  in  a  book 
*'  state  of  destitution,  the  sport  of  their  own 
*'  caprice,  and  a  prey  to  the  passions  of  the 
''  profligate  seducer.  The  presence  of  the 
"  husband  is  scarce  sufricient  to  guard  the 
"  sanctity  of  the  marriage- bed:  what  must  be 
*'  the  consequence,  if  they  are  separated,  and 
*'  as  it  were,  divorced  for  a  number  of  years  ? 
"  In  that  interval,  the  nuptial  union  may  be 
"  obliterated  from  the  mind.  Let  us,  if  we 
"  can,  prevent  disorder  in  the  provinces ;  but 
*'  let  us  not  forget  the  manners  of  the  ca- 
*'  pital." 

In  this  debate  Drusus  delivered  his  senti- 
ments. He  touched  upon  the  subject  of  his 
own  marriage,  and  added,  that  the  princes  of 
the  imperial  house  were  liable  to  the  frequent 
necessity  of  visiting  distant  provinces.  Plow 
often  did  it  happen  that  Augustus  made  a 
progress  in  the  West,  and  in  the  East,  accom- 
panied by  Livia  his  wife  1  As  to  himself,  he 
had  commanded  in  Ili^'ricum,  and  was  ready, 
if  the  state  required,  to  serve  in  any  part  of 
the  empire ;  but  he  should  serve  witii  regret, 
if  he  was  to  be  torn  from  an  affectionate  wife; 
fbj,  the  faithful  mother  of  all  his  children. 


58  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   111  consequence  of  these  reasonings,  Ca?cina's 
w^-v-^^  motion  fell  to  thecfround. 

A.  U.  C.  '^ 

774 
A.  D. 

2i.  XXXV.  The  senate  at  their  next  meeting 

received  letters  from  Tiberius,  in  which,  after 
complaining  obliquely  that  the  burthen  of  all 
public  business  was  thrown  on  himself,  he 
named  ]\Ianius  Lepidus  and  Junius  Blassus 
for  the  proconsulship  of  Africa ;  leaving  the 
choice  of  one  of  them  to  the  determination  of 
the  fathers.  Both  were  heard  :  Lepidus,  with 
a  degree  of  earnestness,  desired  to  be  excused  ; 
alleging  the  infirmities  of  his  constitution,  and 
the  care  due  to  his  children,  who,  except  a 
daughter  then  fit  for  the  married  state,  were 
all  of  tender  years.  Lepidus  had  still  a  better 
reason,  but  he  chose  to  suppress  it :  it  was, 
nevertheless,  well  understood  that  Bhrsus  was 
uncle  to  Sejanus,  and  of  course  had  the  pre- 
vailing hifluence.   Bla^sus  in  his  turn  declined 
the  office,  but  with  affected  coyness.  Flattery 
knew  on  which  side  its  interest  lay  ;  and,  by 
consequence,  the  slaves  of  power  knew  how  to 
conquer  such  feeble  reluctance.    Bkvsuswas 
*  of  course  appointed. 

XXXYL  A  PUBLIC  grievance,  which  had 


OF    TACITUS.  59 


long  been  felt  with  secret  discontent,  was  soon  book 
after  brought  before  the  fathers.  A  licentious  ;^;"^ 
spirit  of  defamation  prevailed  at  Rome,  and  J'^^ 
rei'^ned  without  control.  The  vile  and  profli-  '^' 
iiate  launched  out  with  virulence  against  the 
best  members  of  society,  and  the  statues  of  the 
Caesars  were  a  sanctuary,  where  the  assassins 
of  every  honest  name  found  protection.  The 
freedmen,  and  even  the  slaves,  poured  out  a 
torrentof  abuse  ;  and,  after  lifting  their  hands 
against  their  patrons  or  their  masters,  resorted 
to  the  same  asylum,  where  they  grew  more 
formidable  in  their  insolence.  Caius  Cestius, 
a  member  of  the  senate,  complained  of  this 
enormity:  ''Princes,"  he  said,  "  represented 
''  the  ofods ;  but  the  sfods  lent  a  favourable  ear 
*'  to  none  but  the  just.  Neither  the  capitol 
"  nor  the  temples  were  places  of  refuge,  where 
"  guilt  might  find  a  shelter,  and  even  en- 
couragement. In  a  late  prosecution  Annia 
Rufilla  was  found  guilty  of  manifest  fraud  ; 
*'  and  if  such  a  woman  might  with  impunity, 
'-  in  the  forum,  and  even  in  the  portal  of  the 
''  senate,  insult  him  with  opprobirous  lan- 
''  guage,  and  even  vrith  meriaces ;  if  such  con- 
'^  tumacy  Avere  permitted,  ar-d  tlie  emperor's 
^'  statue  gave  a  sanction  to  evil  practices,  in- 


50  THE   ANNALS 

*^  somuch  that  he  could  obtain  no  redress ;  ail 
"  good  order  was  at  an  end,  and  the  laws  were 
''  no  better  than  a  dead  letter."  Others  spoke 
to  the  same  effect.  Facts  still  more  atrocious 
wei'e  stated,  and,  with  one  voice,  the  whole 
assembly  called  on  Drusus  for  exemplary 
punishment.  lluftUa  was  cited  to  appear; 
and,  being  convicted,  the  fathers  ordered  her 
to  be  imprisoned  in  the  common  jail. 

XXXVII.  Confidius^Equus and Ciclius 
Cursor,  two  Roman  knights,  who  had  pre- 
ferred a  false  charge  of  violated  majesty  against 
!Magius  C^cilianus,  then  one  of  the  pnetors, 
were  for  that  offence  condemned,  at  the  desire 
of  Tiberius.  From  this  act  of  justice,  as  well 
as  the  sentence  against  Rutilla,  Drusus  derived 
no  small  share  of  popdarity .  Men  were  will- 
ing to  allow  that,  by  residing  at  Rome,  and 
by  mixing  in  social  meetings,  he  made  some 
atonement  for  the  dark  and  sullen  spirit  of  his 
father.  The  luxurious  passions  of  a  young 
man  were  easily  excused  :  Let  him,  said  the 
people,  indulge  his  taste  for  pleasure  ;  let  him 
pass  his  day  in  the  glare  of  public  spectacles, 
and  his  night  in  social  revelry,  rather  than 
live  sequestered  from  mankind,  without  a  joy 


1 


OF    TACITUS.  61 

to  cheer  him,  in  painful  vigils  and  the  gloom    boo:k 
of  solitude  brooding  over  his  cares,  and  think- 
ing  only  to  engender  mischief. 

XXXVIII.  The  ruin  of  eminent  citizens 
had  notyet  appeased  the  rage  of  Tiberius  and 
his  crew  of  informers.  An  accusation  was 
preferred  byAncharius  Priscus  against  Cassias 
Cordus,  proconsul  of  Crete,  for  peculation 
and  violated  majesty.  The  last  article  was, 
at  that  time,  the  burthen  of  every  prosecution 
faj.  Antistius  Vetus,  a  man  of  the  first  con- 
sequence in  Macedonia  (^(^  J,  had  been  accused 
of  adultery,  and  acquitted.  This  gave  um- 
brage to  Tiberius.  He  censured  the  judges, 
and  ordered  Vetus  to  be  tried  on  the  usual 
c]iari>e  of  violated  maiestv.  lie  reoresented 
him  as  a  man  of  a  turbulent  spirit,  and  an  ac- 
complice with  Rliescuporis  at  the  time  when 
that  Barbarian  having  put  his  nephew  Cot)^s 
to  death,  was  on  the  eve  of  a  war  with  Rome. 
Vetus  fell  a  sacrifice.  He  v/as  interdicted 
from  fire  and  water,  with  an  additional  sen- 
tence, that  he  should  be  confined  to  some  island 
not  contiiijuous  either  to  Macedonia  orThrace. 


'»' 


Since  the  partition,  of  the  latter  kingdom 


62  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK  between  Rha:iiietalces  and  the  sons  of  Cotys, 
to  whom  Trebellienus  llufus  was  ap|)ointecl 
guardian,  that  countr}^  continued  in  a  state  of 
tumult  and  hostiht}^  to  Rome.  The  people 
saw,  with  minds  exasperated,  the  grievances 
inflicted  on  the  natives,  and,  having  no  pros- 
pect of  redress,  accused  TrebeUienus  no  less 
than  Rlia'metalces.  In  the  samejuncture  the 
Ca:laletans,  the  Odrysirans,  Dians,  and  other 
adjacent  states,  in  one  general  revolt,  had  re- 
course to  arms.  They  took  the  field  under 
their  own  respective  chiefs,  men  of  no  con- 
sideration, and  all  by  their  meanness  and  in- 
capacity reduced  to  one  connnon  level .  Hence 
no  concerted  plan,  no  spirit  of  union.  By  one 
party  the  country  was  laid  waste  ;  another 
passed  over  mount  lia^mus,  with  a  design  to 
draw  distant  nations  into  their  confederacy  ; 
while  the  most  numerous  and  best  disciplined 
troops  sat  down  before  Philippopolis  (a  city 
founded  by  Philip  of  Macedon),  and  there 
held  Rhirmetalces  closely  besieged. 

XXXIX.  On  the  tlrst  intellioence  of  this 
revolt,  Publius  Velleius  fa  J,  who  commanded 
an  anny  in  the  neighbourhood,  sent  a  detach- 
ment of  horse  and  light  infantry  in  pursuit  of 


OF  TACITUS.  63 

the  insurgents,  who  spread  themselves  over  book 
the  country,  either  with  a  view  to  plunder, 
or  to  reinforee  their  numbers.  lie  himself 
marched  in  force  to  raise  the  siesie.  He  was 
successful  in  every  quarter:  the  freebooters 
were  put  to  the  sword :  and  dissensions  break- 
ing out  amono-  the  besie«;ers,  Rhj^metalces 
made  a  sally  in  the  moment  when  the  Jloman 
army  came  up  to  his  relief.  The  Barbarians 
abandoned  the  place.  Of  these  events,  how- 
ever prosperous,  there  is  no  room  to  speak  in 
the  pomp  of  military  language  :  a  rabble  of 
savages  without  discipline,  and  almostwithout 
weapons,  cannot  be  called  an  army  ;  nor  was 
that  a  battle,  where  the  enemy  was  cut  to 
pieces,  without  the  effusion  of  Roman  blood. 

XL.  In  the  course  of  the  same  year  a  re- 
bellion broke  out  amono'  the  cities  of  Gaul, 
occasioned  by  the  load  of  debt  that  oppressed 
the  common  people.  The  principal  leaders 
of  the  revolt  were  Julius  Florus  and  Julius 
Sacrovir ;  the  former  a  man  of  vreight  amoncj 
the  Treviri,  and  the  hitter  amonc^  the  iEduans. 
They  were  both  of  illustrious  birth.  Their 
ancestors  had  deserved  well  of  the  Romans, 
and,  for  their  services,  received  the  freedom 


64  THE  ANNALS 

looK  of  the  city,  at  a  time  when  that  privilege  was 
rare,  and  the  reward  of  merit  only.  By  these 
incendiaries  secret  meetings  were  held;  the 
fierce  and  daring  Avere  drawn  into  the  league, 
together  with  such  as  languished  in  poverty, 
or,  being  conscious  of  their  crimes,  had  no- 
thing left  but  to  grow  desperate  in  guilt. 
Florus  undertook  to  kindle  the  flame  of  re- 
bellion in  Bclgia ;  and  Sacrovir  to  rouse  the 
neighbouring  Gauls.  The  plan  thus  settled, 
they  caballed  in  private,  held  frequent  meet- 
ings, and  left  no  topic  untouched  that  could 
inflame  the  minds  of  the  people.  "  Tributes," 
they  said,  "Avere  levied  with  unabating  ri- 
*'  gour;  usurious  interest  oppressed  the  poor, 
"  and  their  haughty  masters  continued  to  lord 
*'  it  over  them  with  pride  and  arrogance.  By 
"  the  murder  of  Germanicus,  disaffection  was 
"  diffused  among  the  legions,  and  the  oppor- 
"  t unity  to  strike  the  blow  for  liberty  was  now 
' '  arrived .  R  eflect  on  the  numbers  we  can  bring 
*'  into  the  field  :  remember  the  impoverished 
*'  state  of  Italy.  At  Home  eveiy  warlike  priu- 
''  ciple  is  extinguished.  The  strength  of  their 
*'  armies  is  mouldered  away.  They  have  no 
"  national  strength,  but  depend  altogether  on 
"  foreijrn  nations  to  fii>;ht  their  battles.'* 


Qt"    TACITUS.  6^ 

XLI.  A  GENERAL  spirit  of  revolt  prevail-    book 
ed  ill  every  part  of  Gaal.     Scarce  a  city  was  "^''^ 
free  from  coiinnotioii.     The  flame  blazed  out     J"!- 

A.  D, 

among  the  Aiidecavians  and  the  people  of  "^\ 
Tours  ;  but  by  the  diligence  of  Acilius  Aviola 
CaJ,  who  marched  from  Lyons  at  the  head  of  a 
cohort,  the  insurgents  in  the  former  province 
M'ere  reduced  to  obedience.  The  same  com- 
mander, vrith  a  legionaiy  force,  detached  by 
Visellius  Varro,  from  the  Lower  Germany, 
marched  into  the  territory  of  Tours,  and  quell- 
ed the  insurrection.  In  this  expedition  some 
of  the  principal  chiefs  in  Gaul  joined  the  Ro-^ 
man  army,  not  with  zeal  for  the  cause,  but 
pretending  friendship,  in  order,  with  surer  ef- 
fect, to  be  traitors  in  the  end.  Even  Sacrovir 
fought  with  the  Romans  ;  he  was  seen  in  the 
heat  of  action  with  his  head  uncovered,  in 
order,  as  he  gave  out,  to  signalize  his  courage 
and  fidelity:  but  in  truth,  as  was  afterwards 
collected  from  the  prisoners,  to  avoid  being 
aimed  at  by  the  darts  of  his  countrymen.  An 
account  of  these  disturbances  was  transmitted 
to  Tiberius.  He  doubted  the  intelligence, 
and  by  his  indecision  prolonged  the  war. 

XLI  I.  Junus  Flqrus  in  the  mean  time, 

VOL.    II.  F 


21. 


66  THE    ANXALS 

BOOK    continued  to  exert  Iiis  most  vigorous  efibrts. 

III.  .  ^  _         ^  ^ 

''■-^'^^'^'  A  reu'iiiicnt  of  lior.se,  raised  foniicrlv  amonir 

A.  U.   C.  ■  J  t^ 

y]-      tlie    Treviri,     but    trained    to   the    llonian 

A.  U. 

discipline,  liappcned  to  be  quartered  at 
Treves.  He  tampered  with  those  troops,  fn 
jiopes  of  liTi^inninp;  the  war  ])y  a  general  mas- 
sacre of  Hie  Kom<nt  merchants.  A  small 
nund^er  listened  to  his  advice,  but  the  rest 
continued  in  their  duty.  Florus  was  foiIo^v•ed 
by  a  rabble  of  debtors,  and  a  nundjer  of  his 
own  depeiidants.  He  marched  to^vards  the 
foiest  of  Arden  f^/j,  but  was  intercepted  by 
the  legions  detached  by  Visellius  and  Caius 
Silius  from  the  two  armies  on  the  Rhine.  A 
party  of  those  troops  was  ordered  forward 
under  theconmiand  of  Julius  Indus,  a  native 
of  Treves,  who  was  then  at  variance  with 
Florus,  and,  f(jr  that  reason,  burned  with  im- 
patience to  encounter  his  enemy.  lie  gave 
battle  to  th(^ rebels,  and  over  an  ill-appointed 
and  ui\(hscipiined  multitude  gained  a  com- 
])lete  victory.  Florus  lay  for  some  time  con- 
cealed in  iurkino-  places  ;  but  at  leni»th  iindino- 
liimself  unable  to  elude  the  search  of  the 
Ronran  soldiers,  and  seeino;  the  defiles  and 
passes  guarded  on  every  side,  he  died  by  his 
own  sword.  The  people  of  Treves,  after  this 
event,  returned  to  their  duty. 


Of    TACITUS, 


(if 


XTvIII.  The    /Eduan    commotions   were    book 

HI. 

not  so  easily  quelled.    The  state  was  rich  and  ~^^ 

•J      ^  A.  U. 

powerful,  and  the  force  necessary  to  subdite     ]":J 
the  insurrection  lay  at  a  considerable  distance.      -^ 
Sacrovir  strained  every  nerve  to  support  his 
cause.  He  seized  the  city  of  Augustoduuuni, 
the  capital  of  the  /Eduans,  and  took  into  his 
custody  tlie  flower  of  the  young  nobility,  who 
resorted  thither  from  all  parts  of  Gaul,  as  to  a 
school  of  science  and  liberal  education.    By 
detaining  those  pledges,  he  hoped  to  attach  to 
his  interest  their  parents  and  relations.     He 
supplied  the  young  men  with  arms,  which  had 
been  prepared  with  secrecy  by  his  directions i 
His   numbers  amounted  to  less   than   forty 
thousand,  a  fifth  part  of  which  were  armed 
after  the  manner  of  the  legions:  the  rest  car- 
ried hunting-poles,  knives,  and  other  instru-^ 
ments  of  the  chase.  He  had,  besides,  pressed 
into  his  service  a  body  of  slaves  reared  up  to 
the  trade  of  gladiators,  and,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  country,  clad  with  an   entire 
plate  of  iron.     In  the  language  of  Gaul  tliey 
were  called  Ckupellarians.  Their  armour 
was  impenetrable  to  the  stroke  of  the  enemyj 
but  at  the  same  time  rendered  the  men  too 
unwieldy  for  the  attack.  The  adjoining  pro- 

F  2 


ijS  THE    AXXALS 


III 
A 


BOOK  vinces  liachiot  taken  un  arms  ;  but  a  number 

11.  ' 

"Y^^  ofindividuals  caught  the  infection,  and  join- 

u.  c.  ^  ,  ^  * 

'^J'V  ed  the  rebel  army.  Sacrovir  stained  a  further 
'^'  advantage  from  the  jealousies  subsisting  be- 
tween the  Eoman  generals  fa  j.  Each  claim- 
ed to  himself  the  conduct  of  the  war ;  and  the 
dispute  continued  till  Varro,  finding  himself 
impaired  tn'  age,  gave  up  the  point  to  Silius, 
who  was  then  in  tte  vigour  of  his  days. 

XLIV.  ]\Ie  AN  WHILE  a  report  prevailed 
at  Rome,  tlui>  not  only  the  .Eduans  and  the 
Treviri,  but  several  other  cities  of  Gaul,  to 
the  number  of  sixty-four,  had  thrown  off  the 
yoke.  Germany,  it  was  added,  had  joined 
the  league;  and  Spain  was  wavering.  The 
rumour,  as  usually  happens,  was  magnified 
by  the  credulity  of  the  populace.  Good  men 
felt  tor  their  country  ;  the  g_rea*ter  part,  de- 
testing tlw  present  system,  and  wishing  for 
nothing  so  much  as  achange,  enjoyed  the  con- 
fusion, and  triumphed  in  the  coumion  danger. 
Invective  did  not  spare  Tiberius.  "  In  a 
*'diilicult  and  alarming  crisis,  he  was  busy 
*'  in  settling  the  forms  of  some  new  prosecu- 
**■  tion.  Did  he  mean  to  proceed  by  v»'ay  of 
*'  infornration  against  Julius   Sacrovir?  Was 

1 


'21. 


OF    TACITUS.  (9 

''  that  chieftain    to  be  accused  of  violated    book 

III. 

"  majesty  ?  The   revolt   plainly  shewed  tiiat  ^-^^^ 
''  there  still  existed  men  of  itndauiited  valour,     jj-^^ 
"  who  were  resolved,  at  the  point  of  tlie  sword, 
"  to  dety  his  letters  written  in  blood  to  tlie 
*'  senate;  and  war,  with  all  its  dangers,  was 
''  preferable   to  a  saiiguinary  peace  under  a 
*'  despotic  tyrant.'*     Amidst  tliese  murmurs 
of  discontent,    Tiberius    appeared   with  an 
iinrufiied  temper,    never  once  changing  hi^ 
look,  his  place  of  abode,  or  his  liabits  of  life. 
Is  tliis  to  be    ascribed  to   magn.auimity  ?  or 
did  he  knovv ,  by  secret  intelligence,  tliat  the 
whole  was  either  false,  or  mngniiied  beyond 
the  truth  ? 

XLV.  SiLius,  in  the  mean  time,  having 
sent  before  him  a  body  of  auxiliaries,  marched 
at  the  head  of  two  lesions  into  the  territory 
of  the  Sequanians,  a  people  at  the  extremity 
of  Gaul,  bordering  on  the  ^ii<duans,  and  con- 
federates in  the  war.  lie  laid  waste  the 
country,  and  proceeded,  by  rapid  marches,  to 
Aujiustodunum.  Nothing"  could  equal  the 
ardour  of  the  legions;  the  standard-bearers 
with  emulation  gave  every  proof  of  their 
alacrity  ;  the  common  soldiers  declared,  v/ith 
jone  voice,  that  they  wanted  no  repose :  the 


7,0  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   night  ouglit  not  to  be  lost  in  sleep  ;  let  theni 

<^^r^^  but  see  the  enemy,  they  asked  no  more  ;  vic- 

'7*     lory  was  sure  to   iolio\v.     At  the  distance  of 

A.l),  ^ 

-^'  twelve  miles  from  Augustodunum,  Sacrovir 
appeared  in  force.  His  line  of  battle  v.as 
formed  qu  the  open  plain.  The  gladiators, 
in  coiuplete  armour,  were  stationed  in  the 
centre  ;  his  cohorts  in  the  two  wings,  and  his 
half-armed  multitude  in  the  rear.  He  was 
himself  mounted  on  a  superb  horse,  attended 
by  a  number  of  chiefs.  He  rode  through  the 
ranks,  harangum,<i  his  men :  he  called  to 
mind  the  glory  of  their  ancestors  fr/ J,  their 
brave  exploits  against  the  Romans,  and  the 
pternal  honour  of  succeeding  in  the  cause  of 
liberty.  A  defeat,  he  said,  would  brin^  v.dtii 
it  infamy,  and  chains,  and  bondage. 

XI.VI .  The  speech  was  short,  and  the  sol- 
diers heard  it  without  emotion.  The  le^iions 
advanced  in  regular  order.  A  bo.nd  of  raw 
recruits,  lately  levied  in  the  towns  of  Gaul, 
rould  not  sustain  a  sight  so  terrible.  The  fa- 
culties of  eyes  and  ears  were  lost  in  confusion. 
By  the  Romans  victory  was  already  antici- 
pated. To  exhort  them  v/as  unnecessary, 
yet  Silius  thought  proper  to  inflame  their  ar- 
.dcur.    "  The  disgrace,"  he  said,  "  would  be 


■1. 


OF    TACITUS.  Tl 

*'  great,   if  the  victorious  lemons,  wiio  had    Boot: 

^  '-  III. 

*'  coiiqiiered  iu  Gennanv,  were  now  to  con-  ^^^"*^ 

*  "  A.  U-  C 

''  sider  the  Gauls  as   an  equal  eiieniv.     Tlie      ;"t\ 
'*  rebels  of  Tours  have  been  chastised  by  a 
*'  single  cohort;  a  detacluuent  of  the  cavalry 
^'  cruslied  the   insurgents   at  Treves  ;   and  a 
•'  handful  of  tliis  vers'arniy  ^ave  tlie  Secuia- 
"  nians    a  total    overthrow      The    ,'Eduans 
^'  are    now  l)efore  you  ;    not  an  army,   but 
"  an  efteminate  race,  abounding  in   wealth., 
*'  and  enervated   by   luxury.      Charge  with 
''  valour,   and   to  pursue   the  runaways  will 
"  be  vour  onlv  trouble."     This   speech  was 
received  with  a  general  shout.     The  rebels 
were  soon  hemmed   in  by  the  cavalry  :  the 
front  of  their  line  gave  way  at  the  lirst  onset;, 
of  the   infantry,  and   the  wings  were  put  to 
flight.     The  men  in  iron  armour  still  kept 
their  ranks.     No  impression  could  be   made 
by  swords  and  javelins.     The  Romans  had 
recourse    to    their    hatchets   and   pickaxes. 
With  these,  as  if  batterin";  a  v,-^ll,  thev  fell 
iipon  the  enormous  load,  and  crushed  both 
men  and  armour.  Som<;  attacked  with  clubs 
and  pitchforks.     The  unwieldy  and  defence- 
less enemy  lay  on  the  ground,  an  inanimate 
mass,   without   an  effort  to    rise.     Sacrovir 
threw    himself  into    the  town  of  Augusto- 


rci 


rl  THE  ANNALS 

BOOK    dunum,  but  in  a  short  time,  feariiic;  to  be, 

III.  _  J  ,>-^ 

given  up  a  prisoner,  withdrew,  with  his  most 
faithful  adherents,  to  a  villa  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, where  he  put  an  end  to  liis  life. 
His  followers  having  first  set  fire  to  the  place, 
turned  their  sword^^  against  themselves,  and 
perished  in  one  general  carnage. 

XLVII.  Tiberius,  at  length,  thought  fit 
to  write  to  the  senate  on  the  subject  of  these 
commotions.  In  one  and  the  same  letter  he 
gave  an  account  of  the  war  begun  and  ended. 
He  neither  magnified  nor  disguised  the  truth, 
but  in  plain  terms  ascribed  the  whole  success 
to  the  valour  of  his  officers,  and  the  wisdom 
of  his  councils.  Why  he  did  not  go  in  per- 
son, or  send  his  son  Drusus,  the  same  letter 
explained  his  reasons  :  "  Tlie  extent  and  ma- 
''  jesty  of  the  empire  claimed  his  utmost  care. 
'*  It  was  not  for  the  dignity  of  the  prince, 
*'  on  the  revolt  of  one  or  two  cities,  to  re- 
**  linquishthe  seat  of  government.  But  now, 
*'  since  he  coul(}  not  be  supposed  to  be  under 
'*  any  kind  of  alarm,  it  was  his  intention  to 
*'  shew  himself  to  the  provinces,  in  order,  by 
*'  his  presence,  to  allay  the  ferment,  and 
'^  restore  the  pubhc  tranquiihty."  Vows  for 
his  return,  and  solemn  festivals,  with  other 


OF    TACITUS,.  73 

usual  ceremonies,  were  decreed  by  the  senate,  book 
Dolabella,  intending  to  display  his  genius  in 
the  trade  of  flattery,  succeeded  so  far  as  to 
shew  his  meanness  and  absurdity,  lie  pro- 
posed that  the  emperor,  on  his  return  from 
Campania,  should  enter  the  city  with  the 
splendour  of  an  ovation.  This  occasioned  a 
letter  to  the  senate  from  Tiberius,  wherein 
he  observed,  "  that  after  conquering  fierce 
*'  and  warlike  nations,  and  having  in  his 
«'  youth  received  and  declined  triuniplial 
honours,  he  was  not  such  a  novice  to  glory 
as  to  desire,  in  the  evening  of  his  days,  the 
vain  parade  of  a  public  entry,  for  an  ex- 
*'  cursion  that  was  little  more  than  a  party 
*'  of  pleasure  to  the  suburbs  of  Rome." 

XLVIII.  About  this  time  Tiberius  wrote 
to  the  senate,  requesting  that  a  public  funeral 
might  be  decreed  to  SulpiciusQuirinius  faj; 
a  man  no  way  related  to  the  ancient  patrician 
family  of  the  Sulpicii.  He  was  born  at  Lanu- 
vium,  a  municipal  town:  he  distinguished 
himself  by  his  military  services,  had  consi- 
derable talents  for  business,  and  was  raised  by 
Augustus  to  the  honour  of  the  consulship. 
Having  afterwards  stormed  and  taken  the 
strong  holds  of  the  I  lomopacicnsians  in  Cilicia, 


a 


<i 


a 


(4  THE    ANNALS 

EooK    lie  obtained  triumnhal  honours.  lie  attended 

III.  .  ^      \ 

v-^rw  Caius  Cii^sar  in  his  expedition  to  Armenia, 

A.  U  C 

Wj.  "   the  chief  director  of  liis  coiuicils,  and  niadL* 

A.  D. 

ii,      use  of  that  opportunity  to  pavhiscoiu't,  with 
secrecy,  to  Tiberius,   while  that  prince  re- 
sided in  the  isle  of  Rhodes.     Tliis  anecdote 
Tiberius  mentioned    in  his  letter  ;   declaring 
himself,  in  gracious  terms,  well  pleased  with 
the   good   offices    of   Quiriiuus,   and,  at  the 
same  time,    refiecting  with  a  degree  of  acri- 
mony on  ]\Iarcus  Lollius,   to  whose  conduct 
he  imputed  the  dissensions  between   himself 
and  Caius    Cicsar.      But   the    character   of 
Quirinius  was  held  in  no  esteem;   his  unre- 
Jenting  prosecution  of  I^epida,  already  re- 
lated,  was   still   remembered  ;  and  the  sor- 
did avarice    of  the  man,    even  in    old    age, 
and  in  the  height  of  power,  left  a  stain  upon 
his  memorv. 

XlilX.  The  year  closed  with  a  prosecu- 
tion of  a  siuiiular  nature.  Caius  Lutorius 
Priscus,  a  Roman  knight,  Avas  the  author  of 
an  applauded  poem  on  the  death  of  Germani- 
ciis,  and  for  his  composition  had  received  ti 
reward  from  Tiberius.  The  crime  laid  to  his 
charge  was,  that,  when  Drususlay  ill,  he  pre- 
pared another  elegy,   from  which  he  hoped. 


A.  U.  C. 

774. 

A.    D. 


OF  TACITUS.  75 

if  the  young  prince  died,  to  derive  still  greater    book 
eniolnment.   ^Vitli  the  vanity  of  a  poet  Luto- 
rius  read  his  verses  at  tlie  liouse  of  Pubiius      ''"'•i 

A.    '^ 

Petronius,  in    the   presence  of  ViteUia,  the      -^ 
mother-in-law  of  that  senator.     Several  wo- 
men of  distinction  were  of  the  party.  As  soon 
as  the   prosecutor  opened  the  heiids  of  his 
accusation,   the  confidential  friends    of  the 
author  vsere  struck  witli   terror.     The  fact 
was  admitted    by  all,  except  Vitellia  :  she 
had  tlie  memory  of  a  liberal-minded  woman, 
and  could  recollect  nothing.     Credit,  how- 
ever, was  given  to  the  rest  of  the  evidence. 
Ilaterius  Agrippa,  consul  elect,  was  the  Urst 
to  give    his  opinion  :  he  proposed  that  the 
unfortunate  poet  should  sutler  death. 

L.  ^I.\Nius  Lepidus  opposed  the  motion. 

He  spoke  as  follows  :  "  If  in  our  deliberations, 

"  conscript  fathers,  we  advert  to  nothing  but 

*'  the  flagitious  sentiments,  by  which  Lutorius 

■'  has  discovered  the  malignity  of  his  heart, 

■'  and  wounded  the  ear  of  others,  neither  the 

^'  dungeon,   nor  the  rope,  nor  the  torments, 

"  which   the  law  ordains   for  slaves,   would 

*'  be  adequate  to  the  enormity  of  his  guilt. 

^'  But  on  the  other  liand,  however  great  the 

•  '  depravity  of  mankind,  there  are  degrees 


76 


THE    ANNALS 


of  punishment.  The  clemency  of  tlie  prince 
interposes  often  to  mitigate  the  rigour  of 
the  law  ;  the  Avisdom  of  onr  ancestors  has 
dehvercd  down  to  us  a  system  of  justice 
founded  m  mercy,  and  you  have,  on  many 
occasions,  followed  their  exaniple.  If  be- 
tween error  in  Judgment  and  malignity  of 
heart  a  distinction  is  to  be  made,  if  words  and 
criminal  actions  are  not  to  be  confounded, 
the  case  before  us  admits  a  sentence,  which 
at  once  will  reach  the  oftence,  and  leave  us 
no  reason  to  blush  either  for  our  moderation 
or  our  severity.  The  complaints  of  the 
emperor  when  the  guilty,  by  a  voluntary 
death,  have  prevented  the  eifect  of  his 
clemency,  have  been  heard  by  us  all.  Lu- 
torius  lives  ;  and  should  he  continue  to 
do  so,  will  the  state  be  in  ilaniier  }  His 
death  will  neither  promote  the  public  in- 
terest, nor  serve  as  an  example  to  others. 
Productions  such  as  his,  the  effusions  of  a 
wild  and  irregular  fancy,  may  well  be  left 
to  flutter  for  a  time,  and  then,  like  all  frivo- 
lous things,  to  be  forgotten.  Nothing  se- 
rious  or  important  is  to  be  expected  from 
him,  who  betrays  himself,  not  in  the  hearing 
of  men,  but  in  a  circle  of  women.  And 
my  voice  is  against  him  :  let  him  be  con- 


OF    TACITUS. 


// 


a 


''  demucd  to  exile:  let  his  effects  be  confis-    book 

III. 

*'  cated  ;   let  iire  and  water   be   interdicted,  --^v-v^ 

A    U.  C. 

This  is  mv  opinion,  tlie  same  as  I  should     "'"^i: 

^  A.  I>. 

*'  give,  had  he   been  in  due  form    convicted      ^'" 
"  on  the  law  of  violated  majesty." 


LI.  RuBELLius  Blandus,  of  consular 
rank,  was  the  only  per^onthat  assented  to  the 
opinion  of  Lepidus.  Tiie  rest  concurred  with 
Agrippa.  The  poet  was  hurried  away,  and 
stran<j;led  in  a  dungeon.  ConcerniriO"  these 
proceedings,  Tiberius  wrote  to  the  senate  in 
his  usual  style,  ambiguous  and  inexplicable. 
He  commended  the  zeal  of  the  fathers,  even 
in  a  matter  of  no  importance,  but  desired 
that,  for  the  future,  words  alone  should  not 
be  punished  with  so  much  precipitation.  He 
praised  the  humanity  of  Lepidus,  yet  found 
no  fault  with  Agrippa.  This  produced  a  de- 
cree, by  which  it  was  enacted,  that  no  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  should,  for  the  future, 
be  sent  to  the  treasury,  till  the  tenth  day  after 
passing  it ;  and,  in  the  interval,  execu- 
tion was  to  be  suspended.  The  fathers, 
however,  were  not  to  have  the  power  of  re- 
judging  their  own  acts,  or  revoking  their 
sentence.     The  appeal  v/as  to  be  to  Tibe- 


8  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK   rlus,  and  no  time  could  soften  that  implac- 

in.  -"^ 

v^z-N^  able  temper. 
A.  u.  c. 

771. 

21.  LII.  Caius  SuLPicius  and  Decimus  Ha- 

A.u.  c.  terius  were  the  next  consuls.     The  year  was 

A.ii.    free  from  foreign  conunotions  ;  but  at  Rome 

22.  ^ 

new  laws  were  expected  to  check  the  growth 
of  luxury,  and  that  apprehension  spread  a 
general  alarm.  The  prodigality'  (a)  of  the 
times  had  risen  to  the  highest  pitch.  In  many 
articles  of  expence,  and  those  the  heaviest, 
the  real  price  might  be  concealed  ;  but  the 
cost  of  the  table  was  too  vrell  understood. 
The  profusion,  with  which  luxury  was  main- 
tained, could  not  remain  a  secret.  It  was 
therefore  apprehended,  that  a  prince,  addict- 
ed to  the  frugality  of  ancient  manners,  would 
endeavour  by  severe  regulations  to  control 
the  mischief. 

The  subject  was  opened  in  the  senate  by 
Caius  Bibulus,  one  of  the  irdiles  :  his  col- 
leagues joined  to  support  him.  They  stated 
that  the  sumptuary  laws  were  fallen  into  con- 
tem])t.  'Ihe  extravagance  in  furniture  and 
utensils,  thouj^li  ])rohibited,  o;rew  everv  dav 
more  enormous,  insomuch  that,  by  moderate 
penalties,  the  mischief  was  not  to  be  cured. 


OF  TACITUS.  79 

The  seriate,  A^itliout  further  debate,  referred    cook 

111. 

the  Avliole  to  the  consideration  of  the  em- 
peror. Tiberius  weighed  every^  circumstance: 
he  knew  that  passions,  wliich  had  taken  root, 
could  not  be  easily  weeded  out  of  the  heart : 
he  considered  how  far  coercive  measures 
might  be  a  public  grievance.  If  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  gave  a  victory  to  vice,  the 
defeat  he  saw  would  be  a  disgrace  to  govern- 
ment ;  and  the  necessitv  of  wa"in"- continual 
war  against  tlie  characters  and  fortunes  of 
the  most  eminent  citizens,  was  what  lie  wish- 
ed to  avoid.  After  mature  deUberation,  he 
sent  his  thoughts  in  writing  to  the  senate,  in 
substance  as  follows  : 

LIII.  "  Upox  any  other  question,  con- 
*•  script  fathers,  it  would  perhaps  be  expc- 
"  dient  that  I  should  attend  the  debate  in 
"'  person,  and,  in  my  place,  lay  before  you 
'^  v.diat  I  conceive  to  be  for  the  advantage  of 
''  the  commonwealth.  At  present,  it  may 
"  be  better  that  my  eyes  should  not  survey 
the  scene.  In  so  mixed  an  assembly, 
many,  no  doubt,  by  their  looks  and  man- 
*'  ner,  might  be  apt  to  betray  a  conscious- 
"  ness  of  their  own  vicious  habits.  The  at- 
**  tention  of  tlie  senate  would  naturally  fix 


80  THE    ANNALS 


''  upon  such  men,  and  I  should,  of  course^ 
''  be  led  to  watch  their  behaviour:  in  that 
'^  case,  the  guilty  would,  as  it  were,  be  taken 
"  in  the  fact.     Had  the  a^diles,  whose  zeal 
"  deserves  commendation,    applied    in  the 
*'  first  instance  to  me,  I  should,   perhaps, 
*'  have  thought  it  advisable   to   connive  at 
"  vices  that   have    gathered    strength  from 
**  time,  rather  than  expose  to  the  world  the 
*'  inveteracy  of  the  mischief,  and  the  feeble- 
*'  ness  of  leiral  remedies.    Those  magistrates, 
*'  it  must  be  acknowledged,  have  performed 
''  their  duty  with  a  spirit  which  every  civil 
*'  officer  would   do  well  to  emulate.     As  to 
"  myself,  to  remain  silent,  were  a  desertion 
*'  of  the  public  ;  and  to  speak  out,  may  be 
*'  impolitic.     The  part  which  I   sustain  is 
*^  neither  that  of  a^dile,   praetor,  or  consul. 
"  From  the  emperor  something  more  than 
**  the  minute  detail  of  business  is  expected, 
*'  The  pre-eminence  is  painful,  while  indi- 
"  viduals   claim   the  merit  of  all  the  good 
*'  that  is  done,  and,  if  men  transgress,  the 
*'  blame  is  transferred  to  the  prince.    At  the 
*'  expence  of  one,  all  are  guilty.  If  a  reform 
*'  is  in  truth  intended,  where  must  it  begin  } 
*'  and  how  am  I  to  restore  the  simphcity  of 
*'  ancient  times  ?  ]\Iust  I  atbridge  3^our  villas,^ 


OF    TACITUS, 


81 


"  those  Vast  domains,  ^vhere  tracts  of  land    book 
"'  are  laid  out  for  ornament?  Must  I  retrench  ^^^^^ 
''  the  number  of  slaves,  so  great  at  present     2n. 
*'  that  every  family  seems  a  nation  in  itself?      ^^" 
*'  What  shall  be  said  of  massy  heaips  of  gold 
''  and  silver  ?  of  statues  wrought  in  brass j 
"  and  an   infinite  collection  of  pictures,  all 
"  indeed  highly  fmished,    the    perfection  of 
"  art?   How  shall  we    reform  the  taste  for 
''  dress,   which,    according  to   the   reigning 
*'  fashion,  is  so  exquisitely  nice,  that  thefaj 
"  sexes  are  scarce  distinguished?  How  are 
*'  we  to  deal  with  the  peculiar  articles  of  fe- 
*'  male  vanity,  and,  in  particular,  with  that 
*'  rage  for  jewels  and  precious  trinkets,  which 
*'  drains  the  empire  of  its  wealth,  and  sends, 
"  in  exchange  for    bawbles,  the  money  of 
''  the  commonwealth  to  foreign  nations,  and 
' '  even  to  the  enemies  of  Rome  ? 

LIV.  "That  these  abuses  are  the  subject 
of  discussion  at  every  table,  and  the  topic 
of  complaint  in  all  private   circles,  I  am 
*'  not  now  to  learn.     And  yet,  let  a  law  be 
'*  made  with  proper  sanctions,  and  the  very 
"  men,    who    call     for   a    reform,    will   be 

VOL.    II,  Q 


<£ 


a 


82  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK    ''  the  first  to  make  objections.     The  public 
III.  ''  ,  ^  . 

^---v^  "  peace,  tliey  will  say,  is  disturbed;  illus- 
77-^-      *^  trious    families    are    in    dani^er   of   ruin; 

A.  D.  ^  .  . 

-^-      "  and  all,  without  distinction,  must  live  in 
dread  of  rigorous  enquiries,  and  the  harpies 
of  the  law.     It  is  with  the  body  politic  as 
*'  the  body  natural :  in  the  latter,  chronical 
"  disorders,  in  time  s'rown  obstinate,  call  for 
"'•  harsh  and  violent  rejnedies.     Just  so  in  the 
•'  distempers  of  the  mind  :  the  heart,  sick  to 
*'  the  very  core  with  vice,  corrupted  and  cor- 
'*  rupting,  requires  an  antidote  as  strong  as 
'*  the    poison    that   inllames   our   passions. 
'*  Many  wholesome  laws  were  made  by  our 
"  ancestors,  and  many  by   Augustus :    the 
**  former  are  grown  obsolete ;  and  the  latter 
"  (to  the  disgrace  of  the  age)  are  fallen  into 
"  contempt,  and,    by  consequence,  luxury 
'*  riots  without  control.     The  reason  is  ob- 
'^  vious  :  while  there  is  no  law  in  force  to  pre- 
'*  vent  abuses,  men  proceed  with  caution, 
*'  that  the  magnitude  oftlie  mischief  may  not 
'*  provoke  the  authority  of  the  legislature;  but 
*'  wlien  positive  institutions  are  found  inade- 
'*  quate,  the  case  is  very  different :  unbridled 
*'  passions  take  their  course  with  impunity, 
"  and  all  transgress  without  fear  or  shame. 


OF  TACITUS.  83 

''  \Y\\Y  was  fruiiality  tlie  practice  of  an-    book 
'^  cient  times  ?  Because  each  individual  was  a  "-fyr^ 
*'  law  to  himself:  he  knew  how  to  moderate    ^^^ 
*'  his  desires ;  because  Ave  were  then  the  in-      ^'•''' 
''  habitants  of  a  single  city.     Even  Italy, 
"  when  reduced  to  subjection,  afforded  but 
''  few  incentives  to  luxury.  Foreign  victories 
"  taught  us  to  dissipate  the  property  of  others; 
''  and  the  civil  wars  made  us  prodigal  of  our 
"  own.    But  after  all,  is  the  mischief,  which 
'^  the  a^diles  make  the  "Tound  of  their  com- 
''  plaint,  the  worst  of  our  grievances  ?  Com- 
*'  pare  it  with  other  evils,  and  it  vanishes 
''  into  nothing.     Italy  stands  in  need  of  fo- 
*'  reign  supplies,  and  yet  no  reformer  tells  us, 
''  how  much  tlie  commonwealth  is  every  day 
*'  at  the  mere}"  of  the  winds  and  waves.    The 
*' produce  of  colonic  s  is  imported  to  main- 
tain our  pride  and  luxury,  to  feed  the  mas- 
ter of  the  soil,  and  to  supply   his  slaves 
'*  with  tlie  necessaries  of  life.     Should  those 
"  resources  fail,   will  our  groves,  our  villas, 
"  and  our  spacious  pleasure-grounds  be  suf- 
''  ficient  to  satisfy  our  wants  ?     That  care  is 
''  left  to  the  sovereio;n.     Should  he  ne^^lect 
"  that  essential  duty,  the  commonwealth  is 
'•  lost.     With  resiard  to  other  evils,  the  re- 

G  2 


c  i 


i  I 


84 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK 

III. 

A.  U.  C. 

77.1. 
A.  D. 


metly  i.s  in  the  breast  of  every  iiKlividiral. 
Men  of  rank  may  be  re.strained  by  princi- 
ple, the  poor  by  indigence,  and  the  ricii  by 
satiety.  These  are  my  sentiments.  If, 
notwithstanding,  any  magistrate  should  be 
of  opinion  that  more  may  be  done;  if  he  feels 
within  himself  vigour  and  indu.stry  to  op- 
pose the  torrent;  I  honour  the  firmness 
of  his  character,  and  cheerfully  resign  to 
abler  hands  a  great  part  of  my  own  solici- 
tude. But  when  he  has  declaimed  a2;ainst 
corruption,  if  his  zeal  is  to  evaporate 
in  a  fit)rid  speech;  if  the  violence  of  party- 
resentments,  which  his  patriot  cares  have 
roused,  is  to  point  at  me,  while  the  censor 
of  the  manners  enjoys  the  fame  of  his  elo- 
quence ;  believe  me,  conscript  fathers,  I  am 
not  more  than  another  ambitious  of  making 
enemies.  To  encounter  animosities,  for 
the  most  part  vmprovoked,  and  often  un- 
just, is  too  much  my  lot  at  present;  and 
yet  for  the  interest  of  the  community,  it  is 
a  tax  which  I  am  wining  to  pay.  But  if 
I  deprecate  new  hostilities,  permit  me, 
with  your  consent,  to  avoid  all  such  as 
may  be  excited  without  due  consideration, 
useless  to  die  state,  and  to  me  big  with 
every  disadvantage." 


OF    TACITUS.  S5 

LV.     This  letter  being  read,  the  senate    book 
released  the  a^diles  from  all  farther  care  about  '^'^^ 


the  business.  Luxury  went  on  with  bound- 
less profusion.  It  began  soon  after  the  battle 
of  Act'iiunCaJ,  and  continued  to  flourish,  for 
the  space  of  a  century,  down  to  the  time 
when  Galba  attained  the  imperial  dignity. 
At  that  period  the  manners  changed,  and 
temperance  became  the  fashion.  Of  this  re- 
volution in  the  modes  of  life  a  short  account 
will  not  be  improper.  While  the  old  con- 
stitution still  subsisted,  pomp  and  splendour 
were  often  the  ruin  of  the  most  illustrious  fa- 
milies. To  conciliate  the  favour  of  the  popu- 
lace, and  of  the  allies  of  Rome,  including  even 
kings  and  princes,  was  the  great  object  of  a 
Roman  citizen.  In  proportion  to  his  wealth, 
his  grandeur,  and  the  magnificence  of  his 
retinue,  his  importance  rose,  and  with  it  the 
number  of  his  clients.  But  when  the  best 
blood  in  Rome  was  spilt  by  imperial  tyranny, 
and  to  be  eminent  was  to  be  marked  out  for 
destruction  ;  it  became  the  interest  of  the 
great  to  lay  aside  all  vain  ostentation,  and 
adopt  a  more  humble  plan  of  life.  At  the 
same  time,  a  new  race  of  men  from  the 
municipal  towns,  the  colonies,  and  the  pro- 
vinces, found  their  way,  not  only  to  Rome, 


775. 
A.D. 


86  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    but  even  into  the  senate.    The  strangers  thus, 

III.  p 

incorporated  brought  Avith  them  their  natural 
parsimony.  In  the  course  of  alonghfe  many 
of  them,  either  by  their  own  frugality,  or  a 
tide  of  success  in  their  affairs,  accumulated 
immoderate  riches ;  yet  even  in  affluence 
avarice  was  their  ruHng  passion.  But  the 
cause,  which,  above  all  others,  contributed 
to  the  revival  of  ancient  oeconomy,  was  the 
character  of  Vespasian  ;  a  man  of  primitive 
temperance  and  rigid  austerity.  All  agreed 
to  imitate  so  excellent  a  model.  Respect 
for  the  prince  did  more  than  all  the  pains  and 
penalties  of  the  law.  And  yet,  it  may  be 
true,  that  in  the  nature  of  things  there  is  a 
principle  of  rotation,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  manners,  like  the  seasons,  are  subject  to 
periodical  changes.  Nor  is  it  certain  that, 
in  the  former  ages  of  the  world,  every  thing 
was  better  than  in  the  times  that  succeeded. 
The  present  age  has  produced,  in  moral  con- 
duct and  the  liberal  arts,  a  number  of  bright 
examples,  which  posterity  will  do  well  to 
imitate.  May  the  contest  with  antiquity 
continue!  but  let  it  be  a  generous  emulation 
for  superior  virtue  ;  and  may  that  spirit  go 
down  to  future  times  ! 


OF    TACITUS.  Qr 

LVI.  Tiberius  gained  by  these  proceed-    book 
ings  a  considerable  share  of  popularity.     His 
moderation,  in  the  business  of  the  intended 
reform,  gave  satisfaction  to  all  ranks  and  con- 
ditions.   The  people  saw,  with  pleasure,  the 
tribe  of  informers  disappointed  in  their  views. 
In  this  favourable  moment,  Tiberius,  by  let- 
ters to  the  senate,  desired  that  his  son  Drusus 
might  be  invested  with  the  tribunitian  dig- 
nity. That  specious  title,  importing  nothing 
less  than  sovereign  power,  was  invented   by 
Auo'ustus,  at  a  time  when  the  name  of  kin^f 
or  dictator  Avas  not  only  unconstitutional,  but 
universally  detested.     And  yet  a  new  name 
was  wanted  to   overtop  the  magistrates  and 
the  forms  of  the  constitution,    hi  that  poAver 
usurped,  JMarcus  Agrippa  became  his    col- 
league ;  and,  after  his  death,  Tiberius  Nero 
succeeded.     By  the   last  promotion,  it  was 
the  policy  of  Augustus  to  mark  out  the  line 
of  succession,  and  thereby  check   the  views 
of  aspiring  men.    He  was  sure  that  Tiberius 
would  act  an    under  part,  and,   besides,  his 
own  name  was  a  tower  of  strength.  Tiberius, 
in  the  present  juncture,  followed  the  prece- 
dent left  by  Augustus.   During  the  life  of  Ger- 
inanicus,  he  held  the  balance  even  between  the 
two  young  princes,  reserving  to  himself  the 


g8  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  power  of  deciding  when  he  should  see  occa- 
sion. In  the  letter,  which  opened  the  mat- 
ter to  the  senate,  after  invoking  the  gods,  and 
fervently  praying,  and  the  measure  might  be 
of  advantage  to  the  commonwealth,  he  intro- 
duced the  character  of  Drusus,  but  in  a 
guarded  style,  never  exceeding  the  bounds  of 
truth.  The  prince,  he  said,  had  a  wife  and 
three  children,  and  was  then  of  the  age, which 
he  himself  had  attained  (a)  when  raised  by 
Augustus  to  the  same  honour.  Nor  could 
the  favour  now  requested,  be  deemed  prema- 
ture. Drusus  had  gone  through  a  probation 
of  eight  years  ;  the  proofs  of  his  merit  were, 
seditions  quelled,  wars  happily  terminated, 
the  splendour  of  a  triumph,  and  two  consul- 
ships. There  was  therefore  no  danger  that 
lie  would  be  a  novice  '\\\  public  business. 

LVII.  The  senate  was  not  taken  bysur- 
prise  :  the  emperor's  intention  had  been  fore- 
seen, and  flattery  was  ready  with  her  servile 
strain.  Invention,  notwithstanding,  was  at  a 
loss  for  novelty.  Statues  were  decreed  to  Ti- 
berius and  his  son  ;  altars  were  raised  to  the 
gods  ;  temples  were  built,  and  triurnphal  arch- 
es erected,  with  other  honours  of  a  similar  na- 
ture. Marcus  Silanus  ain^cd  at  something  new. 


OF    TACITUS.  ^ 


BOOK 
HI. 


A.  U.  C. 

775. 


3i 


Willing,  at  the  expence  of  the  consular  dig- 
nity, to  pay  a  compliment  to  the  princes,  he  ^ 
proposed  that,   in  all  public  and  private  re-     ]^% 
gisters,   the  year  should  no  longer  take  its 
date  from  the  names  of  the  consuls,  but  from 
the  persons   invested  with   the   tribunitian 
power.     Quintus  llaterius  went  still  farther  ; 
he  moved  that  the  decrees  of  that  day  should 
be  fixed  up  in  the  senate-house  in  letters  of 
gold.  His  motion  was  treated  with  contempt 
and  ridicule.     The   fathers  saw  with  indig- 
nation a  superannuated  senator,  who  on  the 
verge  of  life,  could  incur  present  infamy,  with- 
out a  prospect  of  future  wages. 

LVIII.  Amidst  these  transactions,  the 
government  of  Africa  was  continued  to  Junius 
Bla^sus.  The  proconsulship  of  Asia,  happen- 
ing then  to  be  vacant,  was  demanded  by  Ser- 
vius  Maluginensis,  the  priest  of  Jupiter.  In 
support  of  his  claim,  he  contended,  "  that  the 
"  inability  of  a  priest,  in  his  station,  to  go  out 
"  of  Italy,  was  a  vulgar  error.  The  order  to 
"  which  he  belonged,  differed  in  nothing  from 
*'  that  of  Mars  and  Romulus.  If  the  priest 
''  of  the  two  last  were  eligible  to  foreign 
''  governments,  whence  arose  his  incapacity  ? 


90  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    ''  Xo  prohibitory  law  was  ever  passed  by  the 
"people;   the  books  of  religious  ceremonies 
"  are  silent  on  the  subject.     In  particular 
''  cases, when  the  ministers  of  Jupiter  were  de- 
''  tained,  either  by  illness  or  by  public  busi- 
''  ness,  one  of  the  pontiffs  officiated  in  his 
''  place.     After  the  tragical  death  of  Corne- 
*'  lius  MerulafrtJ,  a  space  of  no  less  than  se- 
*'  venty-six  years  elapsed,  without  any  no- 
*'  mination  to  the  oitice  :  did  the  interests  of 
*'  religion  suffer  in  the  meaii  time  ?    During 
''  that  v/hole  period,  the  sacerdotal  function 
**  was  suspended,  without  pre^judice  to  the 
*'  established  worship;  a.id  why  should   not 
''  his  absence  be  excused  during  tlie  year  of 
**  his  proconsular  government  ?    That  some 
"  of  his  predecessors  liad  been  restrained  by 
^'  the  authority  of  the  chief  pontiff,  was  a  fact 
*'  not  to  be  controverted  ;  but  the  restraint, 
''  in  those  cases,  was  the  effect  of  private  ani- 
''  mosity .  At  present,  by  the  indulgence  of  the 
''  gods,  the  chief  pontiff  is  the  chief  of  men  ; 
*'  a  stranger  to  all  petty  jealousies  ;  uninflu- 
*'  enced  by  the  cabals  of  a  party,  and  superior 
''  to  the  little  motives  of  a  private  station." 

LIX.  I.ENTULUs  the  augur,  and  several 


OF    TACITUS.  91 

other  senators,  oppo.^ed  the  motion.  A  dc-  book 
bate  ensued,  witli  so  mncli  diversity  of  opi- 
nion, that  the  question  was  referred  to  the 
decision  of  the  supreme  pontiff  (ttj.  Tiberius 
was  not  in  haste  to  determine  the  point.  In 
his  letters  to  the  senate,  he  mentioned  no- 
thins  but  the  honours  decreed  to  Drusus  on 
his  elevation  to  the  tribunitian  power ;  and 
those  he  thonght  good  to  modify  with  cer- 
tain restrictions.  He  censured,  in  direct 
terms,  the  resolution  proposed  by  Silanus, 
and  likewise  the  motion  of  Ilaterius,  for  fix- 
ing up  the  decrees  in  letters  of  gold;  condemn- 
ing both  as  unconstitutional,  and  repug- 
nant to  ancient  usage.  Letters  from  Drusus 
were,  at  the  same  time,  read  in  the  senate, 
modest  in  the  style  and  turn  of  expression, 
but,  in  the  general  opinion,  denoting  pride 
and  arrogance.  "  Rome,"  tliey  said,  "  was 
"  reduced  to  an  humble  condition,  when  a 
"  young  man,  raised  to  the  highest  dignity, 
"  declines  to  return  thanks  to  the  gods  in 
'-'  their  own  temples;  when  he  disdains  to 
*'  honour  the  senate  wi^h  his  presence,  and 
"  refuses  to  attend  the  usual  auspices  in  his 
"  native  city.  Was  it  war  that  detained 
"  him  ?  or  did  he  dread  the  inconvenience  of  a 


92 


THE   ANNALS 


long  journey,  when  he  was  only  visiting  the 
coastof  Campania,  or  pursuing  his  pleasures 
on  the  lakes  ?  This  is  the  education  of  him, 
who  is  to  be  the  future  master  of  the  Ro- 
man world  !  He  is  tutored  in  the  political 
school  of  his  father  !  Tiberius  may  have 
his  reasons  for  withdrawing  himself  from 
the  pubUc  eye:  the  infirmities  of  age,  and 
the  labours  of  his  life,  afford  a  colourable 
pretext ;  but  forDrusus  what  apology  can 
be  made  ?  Pride,  rank  pride,  is  his  only 
motive." 


LX.  To  strengthen  the  foundation  of  his 
own  power  was  the  constant  policy  of  Tibe- 
rius. Intent  on  that  object,  he  still  preserved 
the  forms  of  the  constitution,  and  amused 
the  senate  with  a  phantom  of  libertv.  All 
petitions  irom  the  provinces  were  referred  to 
that  assembly.  About  this  time,  the  right 
oF  having  sanctuaries  (a J,  and  of  multiplying 
the  number  without  limitation,  was  assumed 
by  all  the  cities  of  Greece.  The  temples  in 
that  country  were  crowded  by  the  most  aban- 
doned slaves  ;  debtors  screened  themselves 
from  their  creditors,  and  criminals  fled  from 
Justice,  The  ma<j;istrates  were  no  longer  able 


OF    TACITUS*  9t 


III. 


to  Goiitroiil  a  seditious  populace,  who  carried  book 
their  crimes,  under  a  mask  of  piet}',  to  the 
altar  of  their  gods.  An  order  was  therefore 
made,  that  the  several  cities  should  send  their 
deputies  to  Rome,  with  a  state  of  their  re« 
spective  claims.  Some  places,  finding  their 
pretensions  brouglit  to  the  test,  thought 
proper  to  decline  the  enquiry.  The  rights 
of  others  were  founded  on  traditional  super- 
stition ;  and  superstition  was  uot  willing  to 
renounce  her  errors.  Some  of  the  cities  re- 
lied on  the  merit  of  their  ancestors  in  the 
service  of  Rome.  The  business  came  at 
Ien<>:th  to  a  hearing'.  A  day  more  au£:ust 
and  splendid  cannot  be  figured  to  the  ima- 
gination. ^Ve  now  behold  a  Roman  senate 
sitting  in  judgment  on  the  grants  of  the  old 
republic  ;  discussing  the  treaties  and  conven- 
tions of  confederate  nations  ;  deliberating  on 
the  acts  of  kings,  while  kings  were  able  to 
make  a  stand  against  the  power  of  Rome  ; 
and,  above  all,  reviewing  the  various  systems 
of  religion,  which  had  been  for  ages  estab- 
lished in  the  belief  of  mankind.  These  were 
the  important  subjects ;  and  to  give  still 
greater  dignity  to  the  scene,  the  senate  met, 
as  was  the  practice  in  good  times,  with  au- 
thority to  enquire,  and  liberty  to  determine. 


94  The  annali* 

BOOK       LXI.  The  case  of  the  Ephesians  was  the 
III.  ^ 

^-^^-w  first  broui2;ht  forward.    It  was  stated  in  their 

A.  U.  C  '^  . 

775.  '  behalf,  that  Diana  and  Apollo  were  not,  as 

A.  D.  . 

22.  generally  supposed,  born  in  the  isle  of  Delos,, 
but  in  the  Ortygian  Grove,  on  the  banks  of 
the  river  Cenchris,  which  flows  within  the 
territories  of  Ephesus.  In  that  sacred  re- 
cess, Latona,  taking  shelter  under  an  oliv^e- 
tree,  was  delivered  of  those  two  deities.  The 
tree  was  still  to  be  seen  in  a  flourishing  state, 
and  the  grove  became  a  consecrated  spot. 
It  was  there  that  Apollo,  after  having  slain 
the  Cyclops,  found  a  retreat  from  the  ven- 
geance of  Jupiter  ;  it  was  there  that  Bacchus, 
after  his  victories,  gave  a  free  pardon  to  such 
of  the  Amazons  as  fled  for  protection  to  the 
altar  ;  and  it  was  there  that  Hercules,  hav- 
ing conquered  Lydia,  established  a  temple, 
with  rites  and  ceremonies,  which  neither  the 
Persian  kinos,  nor  the  Macedonian  con- 
queror,  presumed  to  violate.  The  Romans 
at  all  times  paid  the  strictest  regard  to  the 
eanctity  of  the  place. 

LXII.  The  ]\Iaiinesians  were  the  next  in 
order.  They  relied  on  the  ordinances  of  liU- 
cius  Scipiofr/J,  confnnied  and  ratified  by 
Lucius  Sylla ;   the   former   victorious   over 


OF    TACITUS.  95 

Aiitiochus,  and  the  latter  over  Mithritlates.    b.ogk 
In  the  wars  wliich  were  waoed  under  tlieir 
conduct,  the  Magnesians  adhered  with  fide- 
Uty  to  the  cause  of  Rome ;  and,  to  reward 
their  services,  the  temple  of  Diana  Leuco- 
phryne  was,  by  those  commanders,  declared 
a  sanctuary.     The  people  of  Aphrodisium, 
and  also  of  Stratonice,  produced  a  decree  of 
Ca^^sarthe  dictator,  and  another  of  Augustus, 
commemorating  the  zeal,  with  v/hich  those 
states  withstood  the  Parthian  invasion,  and 
preserved  to  the  last  their  attachment  to  the 
interest  of  Rome.    The  Aphrodisians  claim- 
ed the  temple  of  Venus  ;  the  Stratoniceans 
v/orshipped  Jupiter  and  Diana  Trivia.     The 
city  of  liieroca^sarea   deduced    their  cere- 
monies from  remote  antiquity,   aile<iino[  that 
they  had  for  ages  adored   a  Persian  Diana, 
in  a  temple  consecrated  by  Cyrus  fbj.     Se- 
veral orders  made  by  Perpenna  fcj,  by  Isau- 
ricus,  and  other  Roman  generals,  were  also 
cited,  whereby  it  appeared  that  those  sanc- 
tuaries, with  a  precinct  two   miles    round, 
were  declared  holy  ground.  The  inliabitants 
of  Cyprus  claimed   tln'ee   sanctuaries  ;  the 
iirst  and  most  ancient,  dedicated  bv  Aerias 
jf^Jtothe  Paphian  Venus;  the  second,  by 
■  Amathus,  the  son  of  Aerias,  in  honour  of  the 


96  THE    ANNALS 


III 

A.  U.  C 

r 

A 


BOOK   Amathusiaii  Venus  ;  and  the  third,  to  th(* 

Salaniinian    Jove,    by  Teucer,    the    son   of 

775-     Telamon,  when  that  hero  was  ubH<:jcd  to  fly 

A.  D.  '  O  J 

-2-      from  the  rage  of  his  father. 

LXIII.  Several  other  cities  appeared 
by  their  deputies  ;  but  the  senate,  weary  of 
the  number,  and  of  the  party-spirit,  with 
which  different  places  v/ere  espoused,  came 
to  a  resolution,  to  refer  the  whole  to  the 
consuls,  and  wait  their  report  on  the  merits 
of  each  distinctive  case.  The  consuls  went 
through  the  enquiry.  Besides  the  temples 
already  mentioned,  they  found  at  Pergamos 
the  sanctuary  of  iEsculapius,  confirmed  b}^ 
authentic  proof.  The  titles  of  other  places, 
being  all  deduced  from  ages  too  remote, 
were  lost  in  the  darkness  of  antiquity.  In 
this  nund)er  was  the  oracle  of  Apollo,  by 
which  it  was  pretended,  that  the  people 
of  Smyrna  were  commanded  to  build  a  tem- 
ple to  Venus  Slratonice  f^/J  ,-  and  another 
of  the  same  god,  directing  a  temple  and 
a  statue  to  Neptune,  in  the  isle  of  Te- 
nos.  The  Sardians,  and  the  people  of 
]\Iiletus,  were  content  with  a  more  modern 
date.  The  former  relied  on  the  privileges 
granted  by  Alexander  ;  and  the  latter,  on  the 


22. 


OF    TACITUS,  97 

authority  of  Darius.     Diana  was  the  tutelar  ^^^^ 
deity  in  one  of  those  cities,  and  Apollo  in  the  ^"^5^ 
other.     The  statue  of  Augustus  was  held  to    2%. 
be  a  sanctuary  by  the  inhabitants  of  Crete. 
Several  decrees  were  passed,  with  due  atten- 
tion to  the  religious  tenets  of  the  people,  yet 
limitino-  the  number  of  sanctuaries.      These 
regulations  were  ordered  to  be  engraved  in 
brass,  and  fixed  up  in  the  respective  temples, 
aslastino;  monuments,  to  ascertain  the  rii^hts 
noAV  established,  and  prevent  the  future  claims 
of  national  pride,  or  blind  superstition, 

LXIV.  About  this  time  a  fit  of  illness 
threatened  the  life  of  Livia.  Her  danger  was 
so  alarming,  that  it  occasioned  the  emperor's 
return  to  Rome.  Hitherto  the  mother  and 
son  had  lived  on  terms  of  mutual  regard,  or, 
at  worst,  with  hatred  well  disguised.  Livia, 
not  long  before,  had  raised  a  statue  to  Au- 
gustus, near  the  theatre  of  Marcellus.  In  the 
votive  inscription  her  own  name  preceded  that 
of  the  emperor.  To  the  jealous  temper  of 
Tiberius  this  was  an  offence  against  the  im- 
perial dignity.  His  resentment,  however,  was 
suppressed,  and,  for  that  reason,  was  thought 
to  have  sunk  the  deeper.      The  senate  pro- 

VOL,  II.  H 


A.  U.  C. 

77.5. 

A.  D. 

22. 


98  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  ceecled  to  order  supplications  for  the  recovery 
of  Livia,  with  solemn  games  on  the  occasion  ; 
in  which  the  pontiffs,  the  augurs,  the  college 
of  fifteen,  with  that  of  the  septemvirs,  and  the 
sodality  of  Augustan  priests,  were  to  conduct 
the  ceremonies.  Lucius  Apronius  moA^ed 
that  the  fa  J  heralds  at  arms  should  likewise 
officiate.  Tiberius  opposed  the  motion.  It 
proceeded,  he  said,  on  a  mistaken  principle. 
lie  mentioned  the  distinct  functions  of  the  se- 
veral orders  of  the  priesthood,  and  made  it 
clear,  from  ancient  precedents,  that  the  heralds 
had  never  been  admitted  to  that  participation 
of  honour.  The  fraternity  of  Augustan  priests 
was  called  forth  with  good  reason,  since  that 
order  belonged,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  to 
the  family  for  which  public  vows  were  to  be 
offered. 

LXV.  To  give  in  detail,  the  several  mo- 
tions and  resolutions  of  the  time,  is  not  within 
the  plan  of  this  work.  And  yet,  when  virtue 
and  fair  integrity  do  honour  to  the  heart,  or 
when  a  slavish  spirit  brands  the  character,  in 
either  case,  it  is  my  intention  to  select  the  par- 
ticular instances.  In  this,  I  apprehend,  con- 
sists the  chieipart  of  the  historian's  duty.     It 


A.  U.  C. 

775. 

A.  D. 


OF  TACITUS.  99 

is  his  to  rejudge  the  conduct  of  men,  that  book 
generous  actions  may  be  snatched  from  ob- 
livion, and  that  the  author  of  pernicious  coun- 
sels, and  the  perpetrator  of  evil  deeds,  may  ^^' 
see,  beforehand,  the  infamy  that  awaits  them 
at  the  tribunal  of  posterity.  In  general,  a 
black  and  shameful  period  lies  before  me.  The 
age  was  sunk  to  the  lowest  depth  of  sordid 
adulation ;  insomuch  that  not  only  the  most 
illustrious  citizens,  in  order  to  secure  their  pre- 
eminence, were  obliged  to  crouch  and  bend 
the  knee,  but  men  of  consular  and  prsetorian 
rank,  and  the  whole  body  of  the  senate  (a), 
tried  with  emulation  which  should  be  the  most 
obsequious  slave.  We  are  informed  by  tra- 
dition, that  Tiberius,  as  often  as  he  went  from 
the  senate-house,  was  used  to  say  in  Greek, 
"^^  Devoted  men  !  how  they  rush  headlong  in- 
*'  to  bondage  !"  Even  he,  the  enemy  of  civil 
liberty,  was  disgusted  with  adulation  :  he 
played  the  tyrant,  and  despised  the  voluntary 
slave. 

LXVI.  From  acts  of  base  compliance,  the 
next  step  of  degenerate  men  was  to  deeds  of 
horror.  Caius  Silanus,  proconsul  of  Asia, 
was  accused  of  rapine  and  extortion  by  the 

h2 


100  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   people  of  the  province.    The  conduct  of  the 
cause  was  undertaken  by  Mamercus  Scaurus, 
of  consular  rank  ;  by  Junius  Otho,  at  that  time 
praetor ;  and  Brutidius  Niger,  one  of  the  a^diles. 
The  complaint  was  aggravated  by  an  addi- 
tional charge  of  irreverence  to  the  divinity  of 
Ausfustus,  and  disaffection  to  Tiberius.  Ma- 
mercus  affected  to  grace  himself  by  citing  the 
bright  examples  of  a  former  day  (a) ;  Scipio 
Africanus,  he  observed,  persecuted  Lucius 
Cotta  ;  Cato,  the  censor,  appeared  against 
Servius  Galba,  and  Marcus  Scaurus  against 
Publius  Rutilius  ;  as  if  those  great  and  excel- 
lent men  had  instituted  prosecutions  for  con- 
structive crimes  like  the  present  ;  as  if  Scaurus, 
the  grandfather  of  the  prosecutor,  had  de- 
scended to  so  vile  an  office.    It  was  reserved 
for  Mamercus  to  dei^enerate  into  an  informer, 
and  tarnish  the  lustre  of  his  ancestors.  Junius 
Otho,  another  prosecutor,  had  been  by  pro- 
fession the  teacher  of  a  school  (h).     Raised 
from  that  obscurity  by  the  patronage  of  Se- 
janus,  he  obtained  a  seat  in  the  senate,  and 
hoped  by  flagitious  deeds  to  efface  the  mean- 
ness of  his  orii:jin.     Brutidius  was  a  diftercnt 
character.    Adorned  with  liberal  accomplish- 
ments,  and  formed  for  great  things,  he  was 


OF    TACITUS.  101 

sure  of  reachins;  the  first  lionours  of  the  state,    book 
^  III. 

had  he  been  wilhns;  to  v/alk  in  the  paths  of  ^^'^' 

A.  u.  c. 
virtue.     His  impatience  ruined  him.    Easier     "i. 

to  outstrip  his  equals,  and  then  to  rise  over  his  22. 
superiors,  he  enlarged  his  views,  and  began  to 
soar  above  his  most  flattering  hopes  :  but  his 
ambition  led  him  to  the  precipice  from  which 
good  men  have  often  fallen,  when,  not  content 
with  slow,  but  sure,  success,  they  have  hurried 
on  with  too  much  ardour,  and  ended  their  ca- 
reer in  ruin. 

LXVII.  Gellius  Poplicola,  who  had 
been  quaestor  to  Silanus,  and  Marcus  Paco- 
nius,  his  lieutenant,  listed  on  the  side  of  the 
prosecution.  Silanus,  beyond  all  doubt,  was 
guilty  both  of  rapine  and  oppression ;  but  in 
his  case  a  number  of  circumstances,  dangex'ous 
even  to  iiiTiocence,  conspired  against  him.  Be- 
sides the  persons  already  mentioned,  the  most 
able  orators  of  Asia,  men  who  w^ere  chosen 
on  account  of  their  eloquence,  united  their 
strength.  Against  that  powerful  combination, 
Silanus  stood  alone,  obliged,  without  any 
powers  of  oratory,  to  make  his  own  defence 
with  fear  and  trembling ;  a  situation  that 
mii>;ht  disarm  the  noblest  talents.     Tiberius 


103  THE    ANNALS 

iBooK  helped  to  increase  his  difficulties.  With  a 
stern  tone  of  voice,  and  a  contracted  brow,  he 
pressed  the  defendant  with  sudden  questions, 
never  suffering  him  to  pause  a  moment,  either 
to  repel  or  elude  the  charge.  Silanus  was 
obliged  to  admit  several  points,  rather  than 
seem  to  refute  or  baffle  the  enquiry  of  the  em- 
peror. His  very  slaves,  to  make  them  com- 
petent witnesses,  were  sold  by  auction  to  the 
public  officer ;  and,  to  make  destruction  sure, 
Tiberius  added  the  crime  of  violated  majesty, 
that  none  of  the  prisoner's  family  or  friends 
might  presume  to  assist  in  the  defence.  Silanus 
desired  an  adjournment  of  a  few  days.  In  that 
interval,  abandoning  all  his  hopes,  he  sent  a 
memorial  to  Tiberius,  in  a  style  sufficiently 
humble,  but  still  with  the  spirit  of  a  man  who 
felt  himself  oppressed,  and  dared  to  speak  the 
language  of  reproach, 

LXVIII.  Tiberius  remained  inflexible  ; 
but,  to  give  the  colour  of  precedent  to  hislinal 
sentence,  he  ordered  the  proceedings  against 
Volcsus  Messala  (a)  (who  had  also  been  pro- 
consul of  Asia),  with  the  record  of  Augustus, 
and  the  decree  made  on  that  occasion,  to  be 
read.    Ho  then  collected  the  votes,  beginning 


OF    TACITUS.  103 

M'ith  Lucius  Piso.  That  senator,  after  some  book 
flourishes  in  praise  of  the  emperor's  clemency, 
conchided,  that  Silanus  should  be  interdicted 
from  fire  and  water,  and  banished  to  the  isle 
of  Gyarus  (b).  The  fathers  concurred  in  the 
same  opinion,\vhen  CneiusLentulusproposed, 
by  way  of  mitigation,  that  the  estate  which  de- 
scended to  Silanus  from  his  mother,  should  not 
be  included  in  the  c^eneral  forfeiture,  but  vested 
in  the  grandson .  Tiberius  agreed  to  the  amend- 
ment. The  business  seemed  to  be  at  an  end, 
when  Cornelius  Dolabella  rose  to  shew,  that 
his  servile  spirit  had  not  deserted  him.  He 
launched  out  into  a  sharp  invective  against  the 
morals  of  Silanus,  grafting  on  it  a  motion,  that 
no  man  of  dissolute  manners  should  be  eligible 
to  the  government  of  provinces  ;  and  of  this 
incapacity  the  emperor  should  be  the  sole 
judge.  "When  a  crime  is  committed,  the  law 
takes  cognizance  of  it,  and  inflicts  the  pu- 
nishment. But  a  law  to  prevent  the  oifence, 
"  would  be  at  once  an  act  of  mercy  to  bad 
"  men,  and  a  blessing  to  the  provinces." 

LXIX.  Tiberius  spoke  in  reply  :  "  To 
"  the  reports,"  he  said,  "  which  were  current 
"  to  the  disadvantas;e  of  Silanus,  he  was  no 


a 


i  i 


A.  U.  C. 

775. 
A.D 


104  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    i<  strancrer.      But  laws  ouo;ht  to  have  a  bet-* 

III.  ^         _  o 

''  ter  foundation  than  pubUc  rumour.  The 
"d  "  go^'crnors  of  provinces  liad  often  disap- 
^^'  ^'  pointed  the  hopes,  and  sometimes  the  fears 
''  of  mankind.  By  important  scenes  of  action 
*'  the  powers  of  the  mind  al'e  roused ;  the 
*'  heart  expands  to  meet  the  occasion  ;  while, 
*'  on  the  other  hand,  feeble  spirits  shrink  from 
*'  a  great  opportunity,  and  grow  less  by  ele- 
*'  vation.  The  prince  can  never  be  fully  in^ 
*^  formed  ;  and  it  is  not  fit  that  he  should  see 
''  with  the  eyes  of  others.  The  arts  of  am- 
**  bitious  rivals  may  deceive  him.  In  human 
^'  affairsnothingcanbeforeseen  with  certainty, 
*'  and  without  facts,  laws  can  have  no  opera- 
*'  tion.  Till  men  have  acted,  they  cannot  be 
*'  judged.  It  was  the  wisdom  of  our  ancestors 
**  to  keep  the  sword  of  justice  in  the  scabbard, 
"  till  actual  offences  drewit  forth.  In  asystem 
so  just  in  itself,  and  so  long  established,  in- 
novations ought  not  to  be  rashly  made.  The 
*'  cares  of  government  are  a  burthen  to  the 
**  sovereign,  and  his  prerogative  wants  no  en-? 
"  largement.  Extend  his  authority,  and  you 
"  abridge  the  rights  of  the  subject.  When  the 
^*  laws  in  being  are  suflicicnt,  there  is  no  oc- 
'*  casion  to  resort  to  the  will  of  the  prince." 


ti 


(( 


OF   TACITUS.  W5 


This  was,  no  doubt,  a  cons titutioneil  speech. 
From  a  man  little  studious  of  popularity,  it 
was  received  with  universal  approbation.  Ti- 
berius did  not  stop  here  :  when  his  own  pri- 
vate resentment  was  not  provoked,  he  knew 
that  moderation  was  the  best  policy  :  with 
that  view  he  thought  proper  to  add,  that 
Gy arus  was  a  dreary  island,  uncultivated,  and 
inhospitable.  In  honour,  therefore,  of  the 
Junian  family,  and  from  motives  of  lenity  to 
a  man  who  was  a  member  of  the  senate,  he 
proposed  to  change  the  place  of  banishment 
to  the  isle  of  Cythera :  and  this,  he  said,  was 
the  request  of  Torquata,  sister  to  Silanus,  and 
a  vestal  virgin  of  distinguished  sanctity.  The 
fathers  complied,  and  a  decree  was  passed  ac- 
cordingly. 

LXX.  The  Cyrenians  presented  a  charge 
of  rapine  against  Cassius  Cordus.  Ancharius 
Priscus  conducted  the  prosecution,  and  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  was  pronounced.  Lu- 
cius Ennius,  a  Roman  knight,  who  had  melted 
down  a  silver  statue  of  the  emperor,  and  con- 
verted it  to  domestic  uses,  was  accused  on 
the  law  of  majesty.  Tiberius  stopt  the  pro- 
jpeedings.     Against  this  act  of  lenity  Ateius 


BOOK 

in. 


A.u.  a 

775. 
A.  Do 

«)0 


X06  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  Capilo(^«j  protested  Openly;  contending,  with 
an  air  of  ancient  liberty,  that  "  the  ridit  of  the 
*'  senate  to  hear  and  determine,  ought  not  to 
"  be  retrenched  ;  especially  when  a  crime  of 
■'  that  magnitude  called  for  vindictive  justice. 
*'  The  prince,  in  his  own  case,  might  be  slow 
*'  to  resent ;  but  let  him  not  be  generous  at  the 
*'  expcnce  of  the  public."  This  language, 
blunt  as  it  was,  gave  no  offcncc  to  Tiberius : 
he  saw  the  drift  of  the  speech,  and,  disregard- 
ing the  tone  Vv'ith  which  it  was  uttered,  per^ 
8isted  in  his  resolution.  Capito  brought  dis- 
grace on  his  name.  Accomplished  as  he  was 
in  the  science  of  laAvs  both  human  and  divine, 
he  possessed,  besides,  a  number  of  virtues  that 
adorned  his  private  character  ;  but  by  this  act 
of  servile  flattery  he  sullied  the  lustre  of  a  dis- 
tiniiuished  name. 


o 


LXXI.  A  QUESTION  that  concerned  apoint 
of  religion  was  the  next  subject  of  debate.  The 
Iloman  knights  had  vowed  a  statue,  for  the  re^- 
covery  of  Livia,  to  fortune  the  equestiii- 
AN.  In  what  temple  this  should  be  placed  was 
the  doubt.  At  Home  there  were  various  struc- 
tures sacred  to  the  goddess,  but  none  under 
that  specific  title.  Upon  enquiry  it  was  found 


OF    TACITUS.  107 


III. 

C 

115. 
A.  D. 

22. 


that  tliere  was  at  Antium  (dJ  a  temple  with    book 
that  particular  denomination  ;  and  it  being  ^ 
considered  that  the  whole  system  of  rites  and 
ceremonies,  and  the  several  temples  and  images 
of  the  gods  throughout  Italy,  w^ere  subject  to 
the  supreme  authority  of  Rome,  it  was  re- 
solved that  the  votive  present  should  be  placed 
at  4-i^tium.     This  being  a  point  of  religious 
ceremony,  Tiberius  took  the  op}X)rtunity  to 
determine  the  question,  which  had  been  for 
some  time  in  suspense,  concerning  Servius 
Maiuginensis,  the  priest  of  Jupiter.  He  pro- 
duced and  read  a  decree  of  the  pontifical  col- 
lege, whereby  it  appeared  that  the  priest  of 
Jupiter,  when  his  heaitii  required  it,  or  when 
he  obtained  a  dispensation  from  the  supreme 
pontiff,  might  absent  himself  from  the  duties 
of  his  function  two  nights  at  most ;  provided 
it  was  not  during  the  public  ceremonies,  nor 
more  than  twice  in  the  course  of  the  year. 
From  this  regulation  made  by  Augustus,  it 
was  evident  that  a  j^ear's  absence,  and   of 
course  a  proconsular  government,  was  incom- 
patible with  the  sacerdotal  function.  The  au- 
thority of  Lucius  Metellus  (h),  who,  when 
high  pontiff,  would  not  suffer  Aulus  Post- 
humius,  a  priest  of  Jupiter,  to  depart  from 


108  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK   Rome,  wa^  also  cited.   -It  followed,  that  the 
province  of  Asia  could  not  be  granted  to  Ma- 

III' 

77.^  ■  luginensis.     It  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  person  of 
consular  rank,  who  stood  next  in  seniority. 


III. 

A.  U.C 


A.  D. 


LXXII.  During  these  transactions,  Mar- 
cus Lepidus  petitioned  the  senate  for  leave  to 
repair  and  decorate,  at  his  own  expence,  the 
basilick  of  Paulus  f  aj,  that  noble  monument 
of  the  iEmilian  family.  The  display  of  pri- 
vate munificence  in  public  works, which  em- 
bellished the  city,  was  not  yet  fallen  into  dis- 
use. In  the  reign  of  Augustus,  without  any 
objection  from  that  emperor,  Taurus  (h)^ 
Philippus,  and  Balbus,  with  the  spoils  which 
they  had  taken  from  the  enemy,  or  with  the 
superfluity  of  their  own  immoderate  Avealth, 
added  greatly  to  the  ornament  of  Rome,  and, 
byconsequence,tothehonouroftheirfamilies. 
Encouraged  by  this  example,  but  with  a  for- 
tune much  hiferior,  Lepidus  revived  the  glory 
of  his  ancestors.  The  theatre  of  Pompey  had 
l^en  destroyed  by  fire  ;  and,  the  remaining 
branches  of  the  family  not  being  equal  to  the 
expence  of  so  great  a  structure,  Tiberius  de- 
clared his  intention  to  build  anew  edifice,  with 
the  original  name,   lie  congratulated  the  se- 

2 


OP    TACITUS.  109 

nate,  that  the  darnaoe  occasioned  bv  the  late  ^^ok 

'  r>  J  III. 

fire,  was  confined  to  that  sinde  buildino-.  For  Y'TT^ 

'  ~  --^  A.  U.  C. 

this,  he  said,  they  were  obhged  to  tlie  vigilance  ^'^ 
of  Sejanus.  The  senate  decreed  a  statue  fcj  ^^ 
to  be  placed  in  the  theatre  of  Pompey,  in 
honour  of  the  favourite.  In  a  short  time  after- 
wards, when  triumphal  ornaments  were  grant- 
ed to  Junius  Bla3sus,  the  proconsul  of  Africa, 
Tiberius  made  no  scruple  to  declare,  that  his 
motive  for  bestowino-  that  hiah  reward,  Avas  to 
pay  a  compliment  to  Sejanus,  as  the  proconsul 
was  his  uncle. 

LXXIII.  BLiEsus,  however,  had  fairly 
earned  his  honours.  Tacfarinas,  often  repulsed, 
was  never  defeated.  He  found  resources  in 
the  interior  parts  of  Africa,  and  returned  to  the 
conflict  with  new  vigour.  He  had  at  lenoth  the 
arrogance  to  send  an  embassy  to  Tiberius,  de- 
manding lands  for  himself  and  his  army,  or 
nothing  should  make  an  end  of  the  war.  Tibe- 
rius, it  is  said,  was  upon  no  occasion  so  little 
master  of  himself.  *'  It  was  an  insult  to  the 
**  imperial  majesty,  and  the  Roman  name. 
"  Shall  a  deserter,  a  wandering  vagabond,  pre- 
"  sume  to  treat  on  equal  terms?  Even  Spar- 
'*  tacus  C^iJ}  though  he  had  defeated  consulai- 


ilO  THE    ANNALS 


lit. 


BOOK  "  armies,  and  spread  desolation  with  sword 
"  and  fire  through  the  reahiis  of  Italy ^  was 
"  not  allowed  to  negotiate  terms  of  peace, 
"  though  the  commonwealth,  at  that  time^ 
"  was  well  nigh  exhausted  by  Sertorius  (bj^ 
"  and  the  iMithridatic  war.  Even  then,  no 
"  compromise  was  admitted  ;  the  dignity  of 
*'  the  state  was  saved.  And  shall  a  flourish-* 
"  ing  empire  descend  so  low  as  to  compound 
''  witiri'acfarinas,  and,  bv  orantins  lands,  be- 
''  come  the  purchaser  of  peace  at  the  hands  of 
"  a  freebooter  and  a  robber  ?"  Stung  by  these 
reflections,  Tiberias  ordered  Bla?sus  to  se- 
duce the  followers  of  Tacfarinas  by  promises 
of  a  free  pardon  to  all  who  should  lay  down 
their  arms  ;  but  as  to  their  chief,  he  must 
strain  every  nerve  to  secure  the  person  of  that 
daring  adventurer. 

LXXIV.  The  promised  amnesty  reduced 
the  numbers  of  the  enemy  ;  and  Blacsus, 
adopting  a  new  mode  of  war,  turned  the  arts 
of  the  wily  Nuinidian  agahist  himself.  Un- 
equal tc  the  legions  in  a  pitched  battle,  Tac- 
farinas depended  altogether  upon  the  rapidity 
of  his  motions :  lie  divided  his  men  into  small 
parties ;  iie  shewed  himself  in  sudden  incur- 


OF    TACITUS.  Ill 

sions,  fled  before  a  resfular  force,  and  knew   book 

,  ill. 

wiiere  to  lie  in  ambush.     The  llomans  ac-  v^^-^ 

A.  U.  C. 

cordin«;ly  marched  in  three  columns,  by  as  '"^5. 
many  different  routes.  In  the  quarter  where  -■- 
the  Africans  ravaged  the  country  near  Leptis, 
and  then  fled  for  shelter  to  the  Germantes, 
Cornelius  Scipio,  the  proconsul's  lieutenant, 
advanced  with  his  division.  In  another  quar- 
ter, where  Cirta  lay  exposed  to  the  Barbari- 
ans, the  younger  Bla3sus,  the  proconsul's  son, 
commanded  a  second  detachment.  In  the 
intermediate  part  of  the  country,  the  com- 
mander in  chief  marched  at  the  head  of  a 
chosen  body  of  troops.  At  all  convenient 
places  he  threw  up  entrenchments,  and  ap- 
pointed garrisons,  securing  every  station  by 
a  regular  chain  of  posts. 

The  Barbarians  found  themselves  counter- 
acted on  every  side.  Wherever  they  turned, 
the  Romans  were  at  hand,  in  front,  in  flank, 
and  in  the  rear.  Numbers  were  surrounded, 
and  either  put  to  the  sword,  or  taken  prisoners. 
To  spread  the  alarm,  the  Roman  army  was 
a«;ain  subdivided  into  smaller  parties,  under 
the  command  of  centurions  of  approved  va- 
lour and  experience.   iSTor  was  the  campaign 


112  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  closed,  as  usual,  at  the  end  of  the  summer^ 
Instead  of  retiring  to  winter-  quarters  in  the  old 
provinces,  Bla^sus  kept  the  field  ;  he  increased 
the  numl^erof  his  posts  and  garrisons,  and  sent 
out  detachments,  lightly  armed,  with  guides 
acquainted  with  the  course  of  the  country* 
Tacfarinas  could  no  longer  stand  at  baj^  He 
shifted  his  huts  (a),  and  wandered  from  place 
to  place.  At  length  his  brother  was  taken 
prisoner,  and  BliEsus  thought  it  time  to  close 
the  campaign.  His  retreat  was  sudden  and 
premature.  The  province  was  still  open  to 
incursions ;  and  the  flame  of  war,  though  sup- 
pressed, was  not  extinguished.  Tiberius,  how- 
ever, considered  the  enemy  as  completely 
vanquished.  Besides  the  honours  already 
granted  to  B1:t?sus,  he  ordered  that  the  teions 
should  salute  him  by  the  title  of  Imperator, 
according  to  the  ancient  custom  of  the  Roman 
armies,  in  the  prideof  victory  flushed  with  the 
generous  ardourof  warlike  spirits.  Inthetime 
of  the  republic,  this  was  a  frequent  custom, 
insomuch  that  several,  at  the  same  time,  Avith- 
out  pre-eminence  or  distinction,  enjoyed  that 
military  honour.  It  was  often  allowed  by  Au- 
gustus, and  now  by  Tiberius,  for  the  last  time. 
With  him  the  practice  ceased  altogether  (b). 


OF    TACITUS.  nS 

LXXV.  PtOME,  in  the  course  of  this  year,   book 

111* 

lost  two  iilustrious  citizens:  the  lirst  wiLSfTT^ 
Asinius  Saloniniis  frij>  grandson  both  to  JJ-^^ 
]\Iarcus  Agrippa  and  Asinius  PoUio,  half-  -^■ 
brother  to  Drusus,  and,  besides,  the  intend- 
ed husband  of  the  emperor's  grand-daughter. 
The  second  was  Ateius  Capito  fbj,  already 
mentioned  ;  a  n;an  for  his  abiUties  and  his 
knowledge  of  the  laws,  of  the  first  eminence 
in  the  state.  From  his  birth  he  derived  no 
advantaue.  His  orandfather  was  a  centurion 
under  Sylla :  his  father  rose  to  the  rank  of 
praetor.  Capito  was,  with  rapid  speed,  ad- 
vanced by  Augustus  to  the  consular  dignity, 
and,  by  that  promotion,  placed  above  his 
competitor,  Antistius  Labeo,  who  had  grown 
into  celebrity  by  his  talents  and  his  skill  in 
jurisprudence.  It  was  the  peculiar  felicity 
of  that  aoe  to  see  flourishing  together  those 
two  illustrious  rivals,  who,  in  peaceable 
times,  were  the  ornaments  of  their  country. 
The  flune  of  Labeo  fcj  rose  on  the  surest 
foundation  ;  he  wa*>  a  strenuous  asserter  of 
civil  liberty,  and  for  that  reason  the  favourite 
of  the  people.  Capito  knew  liis  approaches 
to  the  great,  and  by  his  flexibility  became  a 
favourite  at  the  court  of  Augustus.  Labeo 
was  not  suffered  to  rise  above  the  pr;ctorian 

VOL.  II,  I  ■ 


114'  THE    ANNALS    OF  TACITUS. 

BOOK    rank  ;  but  that  act  of  injustice   raised  liis 

III. 
•-^v-^  popularity  :  while,  on  the   other  liand,  Ca- 

'^'^5.     pito  obtained  the  consulship,  and  with  it  the 

22-     public  hatred. 

LXXVI.    In  this  year  also,  the  sixty- 
fourth  fa)  from  the  battle  of  Phinppi,  Junia, 
niece  to  Cato,  sister  of  Brutus,  and  the  widow 
of  Cassius,  paid  her  debt  to  nature.  Her  will 
engrossed  the  public  conversation.  Possessed 
of  immoderate  riches,  she  left  marks  of  her 
regard  to  almost   all   the  eminent  men   at 
Home,  without  mention  of  Tiberius.     The 
omission  gave   no  umbrage  to  the  emperor. 
He  considered  it  as  the  exercise  of  a  civil 
right,  and  not  only  suffered  her  funeral  pane- 
gyric to  be  spoken  from  tlie  rostrum,  but 
allowed  the  last  ceremonies  to  be  performed 
with  the   usual  pomp  and  magnificence.    In 
the  procession  Avere  seen  the  images  of  the 
most  illustrious  families,  in  number  not  less 
than  twenty  ;  the  Manhi,  the  Quintii,  and 
others  of  equal  rank.     Those  of  Brutus  and 
Cassius  fhj  were  not  displayed  ;  but  for  that 
reason  they  were  present  to  every  imagina- 
tion, and  with  superior   lustre  eclipsed  tiki 
splendor  of  the  day. 


THE 


ANNALS 


OF 


T  A  C  I  T  U  S. 


BOOK  IV 


I 


CONTENTS 

BOOK  IV, 

I.  THE  orlspri  and  character  ofJEUmSejamis.  II  i?j/ 
corrupt  practices  he  allures  to  his  interest  the  arm?/ and 
the  seiiale.  III.  The  condition  of  the  state,  civil  and 
inililarj/.  Sejanus  seduces  the  younger  Livid,  wife  of 
the  eniperor\s  son  IJrusus,  and  engages  her  in  a  plot 
against  the  life  of  her  husband.  V.  The  stations  of 
the  Roman  fleets  and  legions.  VI.  The  magistrates 
tind  the  forms  of  government  at  Roirie.  VJII.  Drusus 
poisoned,  and  Sejanus  dspireS  to  the  empire.  Tiberius 
recommends  the  Sons  of  Germanicus  to  the  care  of  the 
senate.  XII.  Tiberius  delivers  the  funeral  oration 
occasioned  bij  the  death  of  Drusus.  Sejanus  plans  the 
destruction  of  Agrippina  and  her  sons.  XIII.  De^ 
ptdies  from  the  provinces  heard  bij  Tiberius.  Players 
dnd  pantomimes  driven  out  of  Italy.  XV.  A  temple 
built  in  Asia  to  Tiberius,  Livia,  and  the  senate.  XVL 
A  new  priest  of  Jupiter,  and  new  laws  to  regulate  the 
ofjice.  XVII.  The  zeal  of  the  pontiffs  for  Nero  and 
Drusus,  the  sons  of  Germanicus,  censured  by  Tibe' 
riiis.  XVIII.  Sejanus  aims  at  the  destruction  of  the 
friends  of  Germanicus.  Caius  Silius  and  Titius  Sa* 
binus  accused.  Character  of  Mdrcus  Lepidus  and 
jMtssfiiinus  Cotta.  XXI.  Calpurnius  Piso  accused 
for  words.  Judgment  prevented  by  his  death.  XXIL 
Plautius  Sylvanus  throws  his  wrife  out  of  the  window. 
His  defence.  Tiberius  visits  the  house  to  make  his  en' 
quiries.     Death  of   Sylvanus,      XXIIJ.    The  war  in 


COXTENTSi BOOK    IV. 

j4frica    e)?fJed   hij  DolnlcUa.     Tacfarhui^.  the  Ni(mi' 
dian  chief,  is  slain.     XXVI f.  ^  servile  war  rcndi/  to 
break  out  in  Jfal>/,  hut  cruF.hc(l  in  the  hnd.  XXVIII. 
Vibiiis    Sereni/s  accused  hy  his  (ton  son.     Jlis  speech 
on  the  occasion,  and  his  banishment.     Puhlins  ^uiliiis 
condemned.     Cremntius  Cordns  prosecuted  for  praisini^ 
JBrufifs  and  Cassius  in  an  historical  zioork.      His  defence 
and  voluntarf/  death.     Jlis    book  burnt   hjj  the  puLIic 
officers,  Tjet  continued  to  he  read.     XXXVI.    The  citif 
of  Cj/zicus  deprived  of  its  privileges.      Tiberius-  rejects 
the  offer  of  divine  honours  from  the  people  of  Spain. 
His  speech  on  that  subject.     XXXIX.   Sejanus  peti" 
iions  the  emperor  for  leave  to  marry  Livia,  the  xzido'Ji 
of  Drusus.      The  ar/ful  ansicer  and  refusal  of  Tibe- 
rius.    XLI.    Sejanus  resolves    to    withdraw    Tiberius 
from    Rome.     XI J II.   The  right    to  various  sanelua' 
ries  claimed  by  deputies  from    the    cities    of  Creech' 
XJJV.    The   death  and  character  of  Cneius  Lentulus 
and  Lucius  Domitius.     XLV.  Lucius  Piso,  pnvtor  of 
Spain,  murdered    by   a  peasant.      The  assassin  taken. 
He  refuses  on  the    rack    to   discover  his    accomplices. 
XliVI.    Poppccus  Sabinus    subdues    the  in.\/(rgents  in 
Thrace,  and  obtains  triumphal  ornaments.     JAI.  Clau- 
dia Pulchra   prosecuted  for  adultery,  and  condemned. 
lilll.  Agrippina  desires  the  emperors  leave  to  marry. 
Tiberius  hears  her  zcith  sullcnncss,  and  gives  no  anstcer. 
LV.   Eleven  cities  >  of  ylsia    contend  for  the  honour  of 
building  the    temple    to    the  emperor   and  the  senate : 
Sijrna  preferred  to   all  the  rest.     LVll.    Tiberius  de- 
parts from  Rome,  and  goes  into  Campania.     JJc  is  in 
danger  of  being  crushed  in  a  cave,  by  the  falling  of 
the  stones  :  Sejanus  saves  him  at  the  risque  of  his  own 
life.     The  favourite  rises  higher  in  the  ajfeetion  of  Ti* 


CONTENTS. — BOOK   IV. 

herius.     LX.   Sejanus  suborns  zcittiesses  against  Nero^ 
the  eldest  son  of  Germanic  us.  LXII.  Jn  amphitheatre 
at  Fidenoi,  being  ill'Constructed,  falls  in,  ajid  crushes 
or  kills  jifttj  thousand  spectators.     LXIV.  A  dreadful 
fire  at  Rome  :  Mount  Ccelius  consumed  in  the  frames, 
LXVII.   Tiberius  withdraws  from  the  continent  to  the 
Isle  of  Caprce.     Sejanus    bent    on   the  destruction  of 
Nero    and  Agrippina.      LXVIII.   Titius  Sabinusy  on 
account  of  his  faithful  attachment  to  Germanicus  and 
his  famibj^  ensnared  bi/  I^atiaris,  and  his  accomplices. 
An  account  of    their  infamous  plot.     Sabinus    is  con- 
demned, and  executed,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  peo- 
ple, on  the  first  of  January,   a  day  always  sacred  to 
religious   ceremonies.      LXXI.    The    death    of  Julia^ 
^rand-daughter  of  Augustus.      LXXII.   The  Frisians 
revolt,  and  are  quelled  mth  difficulty,  and  considerable 
loss  to  the  Romans.     L1XIX.V.  Agrippina  the  younger^ 
one  of  the  children  of  Germanicus,  married  to  Cneius, 
Domitius,  zcith  the  approbation  of  Tiberius. 

These  transactions  include  six  years* 

Years  of  Rome — Of  Christ.  Consuls. 

rrrp  QQ  ^  Cuius  Asinius  Pollio,  Cuius  Antistius 

I  Vetus. 

-.  01  S  Sergius  Cornelius  Cethegus,  Lucius 

\  ViselUus   Varro. 


77 


'^7S  95  ^  Marcus    Asinius    Agrippa,    Cossus 

"    I  Cornelius  Ijcntulus. 

r-yq  ^..  ^  Cornelius  Lcntulus  GcetulicuSy  Caius 

\  Calvisius  Sabinus. 

rron  OT  S  Marcus     IJcinius    Crassus,   Lucius 

I  Lalpurnius  Jriso. 

7^1  *5S  ^  Appius  Junius  Sila7iusy   Publius  S, 

"^  \         Nerxa. 


Tttii 

A  N  N  A  I.  S 


OF 


T  A  C  I  T  U  S. 


BOOK  IF. 


rj^HE  consuls  for  the  year^  on  which  we  are    Bot)i^ 
now  enteriPig,  were  Cains  Asinius,  and  ^^-.^.^ 
Caias  Aiitistius.     Tiberius  had  reigned  nine  ^^-c^ 
years.    During  that  time  a  state  of  profound     ^s.' 
tranquilhty  prevailed  at  Rome,  and  the  eiri* 
peror  saw  the  imperial  family  flourishing  with 
undiminished  lustre.     The  loss  of  Germani* 
cus  gave  liim  no  regret ;  on  the  conti-ary,  he 
reckoned  that  event  among  the  prosperous 
issues  of  his  reiijn.     But  fortune  now  beran 
to  change  the  scene,  and  a  train  of  disasters 
followed.     Tiberius    threw    off    the   mask: 
he  harassed  the  people  by  acts  of  cruelty^ 
or,  whicU  was    equally   oppressive,  by   his 


122  THE    AXXALS 

BOOK    authority  cncourai^ed  the  tyranny  of  otlien 


A.  u. 

776 


'^  Of  this  reyolution  .^lius  Sejanus,coninrcURler 
^  jj  of  the  prcCtorian  guards,  was  the  prime  and 
^^"  efficient  cause.  The  power  and  influence  of 
that  minister  have  been  ah'eady  mentioned. 
I  shall  here  give  the  origin  of  the  man,  the 
features  of  liis  character,  and  the  flagitious 
arts,  b}/^  wliicli  lie  aspired  to  the  supreme 
power. 

He  was  born  at  Vulsinii  f'r/J,  the  son  of 
Seius  Strabo  H)),  a  Roman  knight.     He  at- 
tached himself,  in  his  early  youth,  to  Caius 
Ccrsar,  the  grandson  of  Augustus.     Even  at 
that  time  he  laboured  under  a  suspicion  of 
having   prostituted  his  person  to  the   infa- 
mous  passions  of  Apicius   fcj,  a  ricli  and 
prodigal  yoluptuar}'.     By  various  arts  he  af- 
terwards gained  an  entire  ascendant  over  the 
affections    of  Tiberius,    insomuch   that   the 
temper  of  that  prince,  to  the   rest  of  man- 
kind dark  and   inscrutable,  became  to  him 
alone  unclouded,  free,  and  complying.    This 
influence,  however,  was  not  the  elYect  of  su- 
perior ability  ;  since  Sejanus,  in  the  end,  fell 
a  victim   to  the  policy  of  that  very  prince, 
wlioin  lie  deceived  at  iirst.     A  phLvnomenon 
so  very  extraordinary  can  be  ascribed  to  no- 


OF    TACITUS.  .123^ 

thino*  less  than  the  wratli  of  the  siods,  inccns-    book 

^  _  ^    ^  IV, 

ed  at^ainst  tiie  Ilonian  state.      Whether  the  ^^^'-v^*^ 
public  sulilred  most  by  the  elevation  00^  or     t-g.  ' 

A.  D» 

the  downfal,  of  that  pernicious  minister,  it  is      ^*- 
dilticult  to  determine.  His  frame  of  body  was 
vigorous,  robust,  and  })atient  of  labour  ;  his 
spirit,  bold  aiid  enterprising  ;  in  his  own  con- 
duct a  profound  dissembler,  and  to  others  a 
sharp  and   dangerous  accuser.     M'itli  pride 
that  swelled  to  arrogance,  he  had  the  mean- 
ness  tliat  could  fawn  and  flatter  ;  and,  under 
the  outward  calm  of  moderation,  he  nourish- 
ed in  his  heart  the  most  unbounded  ambi- 
tion.   Profusion,  luxury,  and  largesses,  were 
often  his  means,  but  more  frequently  appli- 
cation to  business,  and  indefatigable  indus- 
try  ;  virtues  that  take  the  name  of  vice,  when 
they  play  an  underpart  to  inordinate  passions 
and  the  lust  of  domination  (ej. 

11.  The  commission  over  the  praetorian 
bands  had  been  always  of  a  limited  nature. 
Sejanus  enlarged  his  powers  to  a  degree  un- 
known before.  He  had  the  address  to  col- 
lect into  one  camp  the  whole  corps  of  the 
guards,  till  that  time  quartered  in  various 
parts  of  Rome.  Being  embodied,  they  re- 
ceived their  orders  with  submission  ;  habit 


1£4  'THE    ANNAt^ 

book:   and  constant  intercoutsc  established  a  sillrlt 
IV.  ,        .  .  .  * 

'j^-'.-w  of  union,  and,  knowing-  (lifir  nmnbcrs,  they 
Vts.  '  orew  formidable  to  tlieir  teliow-eitizens.  TJie 

A.  D. 

OT. '  pretext  for  this  measure  was,  that  the  sol- 
diery grew  wanton  in  idleness,  but,  Avlien  en- 
camped, they  nii<i;ht  be  drawn  fortii,  with 
better  effect,  in  any  sudden  emergence,  and 
being  confined  with.in  their  entrenchments, 
at  a  distance  from  the  vices  of  tlie  metropo- 
lis, they  would  act  with  greater  vigour  when- 
ever required.  This  plan  being  settled,  Se- 
janus  began  his  approach.es  to  the  affections 
of  the  soldiers  :  by  aftabilitv  and  caresses, 
he  glided  into  favour  ;  he  appointed  the  tri- 
bunes and  centmions ;  lie  endeavoured  to 
seduce  tlie  senators  by  corruption  :  he  pro- 
moted his  creatures,  and,  at  liis  pleasure,  be- 
atowed  honours  and  provinces.  All  this  was 
done,  not  only  with  the  consent,  but  with 
the  most  complying  facility  on  the  part  of 
Tiberius,  who  now^  declared  o[)enly  in  favour 
of  the  minister,  st3'ling  him,  in  private  con- 
versation, his  associate  in  the  cares  of  go- 
vernment, and  usiiiLi  the  same  lamiuaoe  even 
to  the  senate.  Nor  did  he  stop  here:  he  al- 
lowed the  images  of  his  favourite  to  be  wor- 
^hi})ped  in  the  theatre,  in  the  fonim,  and,  at 
the  head-quarters  of  the  legions,  in  the  place 


QF    TACITUS,  12.5 

appropriated  faj  for  the  ijtandarJ.^  and  the    book 
eagles, 

III.  As  yet,  however,  tlie  imperial  family 
was  ill  a  flourishing  state.  To  secure  the 
succession  there  was  no  wantof  Ciusars.  The 
emperor's  son  faj  vras  in  the  prime  of  man- 
hood, and  his  grandsons  ii^  the  flower  of 
youth.  These  were  obstacles  to  the  views  of 
Sejanus.  To  assail  them  with  open  force, 
were  big  witli  danger;  and  fraud  requires 
delav,  and  intervals  of  i^uilt.  lie  resolved 
to  work  by  stratagem.  Drusus,  against 
whon:  Sejanus  was  inflamed  by  recent  pro- 
vocations, v»as  marked  out  as  the  first  victim.^ 
Jt  happened  that  Drusus,  hnpatient  of  a  ri- 
val, and  by  nature  fierce,  raised  his  hand^  in 
some  sudden  dispute,  against  Stjanus  ;  and 
that  haughty  minister,  advancing  forward^ 
received  a  blow  on  the  face.  Stung  with  in- 
dignation, lie  thought  no  expedient  so  sure, 
as  the  gaining  of  the  younger  Livia  f />J,  the 
wile  of  Prusus,  to  his  iutere.st.  The  princess 
was  sister  to  Gerniaihcus  ;  and  though,  in  her 
younger  days,  she  had  no  elegance  either  of 
shape  or  feat  urc,  she  Avas  noM^  grown  up  in 
the  most  perfect  form  of  regular  beauty.  Se- 
j;uuis  made  his  advances  with  the  ardour  of 


126  THE    AXXAl.S 

BOOK  a  lover.  Having  triumphed  over  her  honour, 
he  found  another  step  in  guilt  no  dilticult 
matter.  A  woman,  who  has  sacrificed  her 
virtue,  soon  resigns  every  other  principle. 
Engaged  in  a  course  of  adultery,  she  was  led 
by  degrees  to  embrace  the  project  of  uiur- 
dering  her  husband,  in  order  to  many  her 
paramour,  and  mount  with  him  to  the  im- 
perial dignity. 

In  this  n?anner  a  woman  of  illustrious 
rank,  the  niece  of  Augustus,  the  daughter- 
in-law  of  Tiberius,  and  the  mother  of  chil- 
dren b}-  Drusus,  disgraced  herself,  her  an- 
cestors, and  her  posterity,  by  a  vile  connec- 
tion with  an  adulterer  from  a  municipal 
town,  renouncing  the  honovu's  which  she  pos- 
sessed, for  the  uncertain  prospect  of  flagi- 
tious grandeur.  Eudcmus  fcj,  the  confiden- 
tial friend  and  physician  of  the  faithless  wife, 
v>  as  drawn  into  the  conspiracy.  Under  co- 
lour of  his  profession,  this  man  had  easy  ac- 
cess to  Livia.  Sejanus  listed  him  into  his 
service  ;  and  that  the  harmony  between  him- 
self and  the  adultress  might  be  undisturbed 
by  jealousy,  he  repudiated  his  wife  Apicata, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children.  But  still 
the  mai>;nitude  of  the  crime  filled  their  minds 


OF    TACITUS.  127 


with  terror  :  they  fluctuated  between  oppo-   book 
site  counsels  ;  they  resolved,  they  hesitated; 
delay,  and  doubt,  and  confusion  followed. 


A.  U.  C. 

116. 

A.  D. 

i'3. 


IV.  In  the  beginning  of  this  year,  Drusus, 
the  second  son  of  Germanic  us,  put  on  the 
manly  robe  (aj.  The  honours,  which  had 
been  decreed  to  his  brother  Nero,  were  re- 
newed by  a  vote  of  the  fathers.  Tiberius,  in 
a  speech  upon,  the  occasion,  commended  the 
tender  regard  with  which  his  son  protected 
the  cliildren  of  Gernianicus.  The  truth  is, 
Drusus  (thouiih  in  hidi  stations  and  anions 
rivals  sincerity  is  seldom  found)  had  acouit- 
ted  himself  towards  his  nephews,  with  ail  de- 
cent attention,  at  least  without  hostility. 
Amidst  these  tiansactions,  the  old  project  of 
visiting  the  provinces,  often  intimated,  but 
never  in  earnest,  was  revived  by  Tiberius. 
For  this  expedition  the  ostensible  reasons 
were,  the  number  of  veterans  entitled  to  tiieir 
dismission  from  the  service,  and  the  neces- 
sity of  recruiting  the  army  with  effective 
men.  Of  such  as  voluntaiily  offered,  the 
number  he  said  was  small,  and  even  of  tliose 
the  greatest  })art  were  a  set  of  distressed  and 
profligate  vagabonds,  destitute  of  courage, 
and   strangers    to    mihtary    discipline,     lie 


12i>  ^  THE    ANXALS 

BOOK   added  a  list  of  the  Roman  legions,  specify- 
Y~:C^/  iiig  tiie  provinces  where  they  were  stationed. 
J7«;     A  review  of  that  estimate  will  not  be  useless. 
^'     or  unacceptable,  since  it  will  exhibit  the  na- 
tional streiio-th  at  that  neriod,  the  kinirs  in 
alliance  with  Rome,   and   the  narrow  limits 
(Oj  of  the  empire,  compared  with  the  ex- 
tent to    which  they  have    been    since   en- 
larged, 

V.  In  the  s^as  f«;  that  on  each  side  wash 
the  coast  of  Italy,  two  fleets  were  stationed  ; 
one  at    jMisenum,   the   other  at    Ravenna. 
The   nfiaritime    parts  of  Gaul,  adjacent   to 
Italy,  were    guarded    by    the  large  galleys, 
which  were  taken  at  the    battle  of  Actium, 
and  sent  by  Augustus  to   Forojulinm,  well 
provided  with  able  seamen.     But  the  chief 
strength  of  the  empire  was    on   the  Rhine 
f6J,   consisting  of  eight  legions,  to  bridle 
at  once  the  Germans  and  the  Gauls.     Spain, 
lately  subdued,  was  held    in   subjection  by 
three  legions.     Juba  fcj   reigned    in  ]\Iau- 
ritania,   deriving  his    title  from   the  favour 
of  Rome.     The    rest   of  Africa   was   kept 
in   awe   by   two   legions.     A   like   number 
served  in   Egypt.     In   that  vast   extent   of 
country,  which  stretches  from  Syvia  to  the  , 


OF    TACITUS,  129 

Euphrates,  bordering  on  the  confines  of  Iberia,    book 
Albania,  and  other  states  under  the  protection  "-TTT^ 

'  ^  A.  U.  C. 

of  the  Roman  arms,  four  legions  maintained  ^'^^ 
the  rights  of  the  empire.  Thrace  was  go-  '^• 
verned  by  Tthannetalces  (d)  and  the  sons  of 
Cotys;  The  banks  of  the  Danube  were  se- 
cured by  four  legions,  two  in  Pannonia,  and 
two  in  ]\I«sia.  Two  more  were  stationed  in 
Dalmatia,  in  a  situation,  if  war  broke  out  at 
their  back,  to  support  the  other  legions  ;  or  if 
a  sudden  emergence  required  their  pl^esence, 
ready  to  advance  by  rapid  marches  into  Italy. 
Rome  at  the  same  time  had  her  own  peculiar 
forces^  namely,  three  city  cohorts  fej  and  nine 
of  the  praetorian  bands,  raised  for  the  most 
part  in  Etruria,  JJinhr'mffJ,  ancient  Latium, 
and  the  colonies  of  the  old  republic.  To  this 
national  strength  must  be  added  the  naval 
armaments  of  the  allies,  placed  at  proper  sta- 
tions fgj,  together  with  their  infantry  and 
cavalry,  forming,  in  the  whole,  a  body  of 
troops,  not  inferior  in  number  to  the  Roman 
army.  But  of  the  foreign  auxiliaries  it  is  im- 
possible to  speak  with  precision.  They  were 
shifted  from  place  to  place,  with  numbers  now 
augmented;,  and  now  reduced,  as  occasion  re- 

VOL.    II.  K 


IV 

A.  U.  C. 

776. 

A.D. 

23. 


130  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    quired  ;  and,   by  consequence,   an  accurate 
estimate  cannot  be  expected. 

VI.  To  tliis  survey  of  the  empire  if  we  add 
a  view  of  the  constitution,  and  the  manner  in 
which  the  govermnent  was  administered  by 
Tiberius,  from  the  be^innins:  of  his  reis^n  to 
the  present  year,  the  fatal  a^ra  of  tyranny  and 
oppression,  the  enquiry  will  not  be  foreign  to 
our  purpose.    In  the  first  place,  not  only  the 
affairs  of  state,  but  all  questions  of  importance 
between  the  citizens  of  Rome,  were  referred 
to  the  wisdom  of  the  senate.     The  leading 
members  of  that  assembly  claimed  and  ex- 
ercised full  freedom  of  debate  :  and  when  they 
deviated  into  flattery,  the  prince  was  sure  to 
reject  the  nauseous  strain.    In  dispensing  the 
honours  of  government,  he  had  an  eye  to  no- 
bility of  birth,  to  personal  merit,  and  to  talents 
as  well  civil  as  military.     His  choice,  it  was 
generally  agreetl,  Avas  made  with  judgment. 
The  consuls  and  the  praetors  enjoyed  the  an- 
cient honours  of  their  rankand  dignity.  The 
subordinate  ma<);istrates  exercised  their  func- 
tions  without  controul.     The  laws,  if  we  ex- 
cept tiiose  of  violated  majesty  (a),  flowed  in 
their  regular  channel.  Tiie  tributes  and  duties, 
11 


OP  TACITUS.  131 

-whether  of  com  or  money,  were  managed  by    book 
commissioners  chosen  (bj  from  the  lloman  ^^"J^ 
knights.     The  revenues  appropriated  to  the     "^^^ 
prince  were  conducted  by  men  of  distinguish-      *^* 
Cd  probity,   and  frequently  by  such,  as  were 
known  to  Tiberius  by  their  character  only. 
Being  once  appointed,   they  were  never  re- 
moved.   Several,  it  is  well  known,  grew  grey 
in  the  same  employment.     The  people,  it  is 
true,  often  complained  of  the  price  of  corn  ; 
but  the  grievance  was  not  imputable  to  the 
emperor.     To  prevent  the  consequences  of 
unproductive   seasons,    or  losses  at  sea,  he 
spared  neither  money  nor  attention.     In  the 
provinces   no  new   burtliens  were   imposed, 
and  the  old    duties   were  collected  without 
cruelty  or  extortion.     Corporal  punisinnent 
was  never  inflicted,  and  confiscation  of  men's 
effects  was  a  thins?  unknown. 

VII.  In  Italythe  land  -  property  of  the 
emperor  was  inconsiderable.  Good  order  pre- 
vailed anion""  his  slaves.  His  freedmen  were 
few,  and  his  household  was  managed  with 
oeconomy.  In  all  questions  of  right  between 
the  emperor  and  individuals,  the  courts  of 
justice  were  open,  and  the  law  decided.  And 

K  2, 


132  THE    ANNALS 

BrioK-   ^et  to  tliis  equitable  system  he  did  not  know 
v^-v-^  how  to  add  a  <rracioiis  manner  :  the  austerity 

A   l^   C 

of  his  countenance  struck  men  with  terror. 


A.D 


23.      He  continued,   however,  in  tlie  practice  of 
riiiid,  thouiih  not  amiable,  manners,  till  the 
death  of  Drusus  fa  J.   While  that  prince  sur- 
vived, Sejanus  thought  it  prudent  to  advance 
by  slow  degrees.  He  dreaded  the  resentment 
of  a  young  man,  who  did  not  seek  to  disguise 
his  passions,  but  complained  aloud,  "  that  the 
"  emperor,  though  he  had  a  son  to  succeed 
"  him,  preferred  astianger  to  a  share  in  the 
"  administration.  IIow  little  was  that  upstart 
*'  minister  removed  from  being  a  colleague  in 
'*  the   empire!  The  road  of  ambition  is  at 
"  tirsta  steep  ascent ;  but  the  difficulty  once 
*'  surmounted,  the  passions  of  designing  men 
'*  list  in  the  enterprize,  and  tools  and  agents 
*'  are  ready  at  hand.  The  favourite  is  already 
*'  master  of  a  camp,  and  the  soldiers  wait  his 
'*  nod.     Among  the  monuments  of  Pompcy 
'*  we  behold  his  statue  :  the  grand-children  of 
''  this  new  man  will  be  allied  in  blood  to  the 
"  family  of  Drusus  fhj.    What  remains,  but 
**  luunbly  to  hope  that  he  will  have  the  mo- 
*'  desty  to  stop  in  his  career,   content  Avith 
"  what  he  has  already  gained?"    Such  was 
llie  discourse  of  Drusus,  not  occasional  but 


OF    TACITUS. 


133 


constant;  not  in  private  circles,  but  at  large,    book 
und  without  reserve.  His  inmost  secrets  were  YTTT^ 

A.  U.  C. 

also  knoAvn  :  his  wdte  had  forefeited  her  ho-    JJ'^ 
iiour,  and  was  now  a  spy  upon  her  husband.      '^'^° 


VIII.  Ix  tliis  posture  of  affairs,  Sejanus 
thouHit  he  liad  no  time  to  lose.  He  chose  a 
poison,  which,  operating  as  a  slow  corrosive, 
might  bring  on  the  symptoms  of  a  natural 
disorder.  Lygdus  the  eimuch  (as  was  dis- 
covered eight  years  afterwards),  f^O  admi- 
nistered the  draught.  AV'hile  Drusus  lay  ill, 
Tiberius,  never  seeming  to  be  in  any  degree 
alarmed,  or,  it  may  be,  willing  to  make  a 
display  of  magnanimity,  wxnt  as  usual  to  the 
senate.  Even  after  the  prince  expired  and 
before  the  funeral  ceremony  was  performed, 
he  entered  the  assembly  of  the  fathers.  Per* 
ceiving  the  consuls,  with  dejected  looks,  seat- 
ed on  the  ordinary  benches,  like  men  who 
mourned  Ibr  the  public  loss,  he  put  them  in 
mind  of  their  dignity,  and  their  proper  station, 
The  senate  melted  into  tears:  but  Tiberius, 
superior  to  the  weakness  of  nature,  delivered 
an  animated  speech,  in  a  flowing  style,  and 
a  tone  of  iirnmess.  "  He  was  not,"  he  said, 
^'  to  be  informed  that  his  appearance  might 


134  THE     ANNALS 


BOOK    ''  be  thoui^ht  unseasonable  in  the  moment 

IV.  .      . 

v.^^T'ij^  '^  of  recent  affliction,    when,    according   to 

AUG  •  ^ 

776.  '   *'  the   general  custom,   the  mind,  enfeebled 

A.  D.  .   ,   ^  1  ^1 

23.  '^  with  sorrow,  can  scarce  endure  the  con- 
"  solation  of  friends,  and  almost  loathes 
''  the  lioht  of  the  sun.  Those  tender  emo- 
''  tions  were  the  condition  of  humanity,  and, 
"  therefore,  not  to  be  condemned.  For  his 
''  part,  he  sought  a  manly  remedy ;  in  the 
*'  embraces  of  the  commonwealth,  and  in  the 
"  bosom  of  the  fathers,  he  came  to  lay  down 
"  his  sorrows.  He  lamented  the  condition 
'^  of  his  mother,  drooping  under  the  iniirmi- 
"  ties  of  age,  the  tender  years  of  his  grandsons, 
'^  and  his  own  situation,  now  in  the  decline 
'*  of  life.  The  children  of  Germanicus,  in 
''  the  present  distress,  were  the  only  remain- 
"  ing  hopes  of  the  people.  He  desired  that 
*'  they  might  be  brought  before  the  fathers." 

The  consuls  Avent  forth  to  meet  the  princes. 
Having  prepared  their  tender  minds  for  so 
august  a  scene,  they  presented  them  to  the 
emperor.  Tiberius,  taking  them  by  the  hand, 
addressed  the  senate  :  "  These  orphans,  con- 
''  script  Withers,  I  delivered  into  the  care  of 
''  their   uncle;  and,    though  he  was  blessed 


OF    TACITUS, 


135 


'''  with  issue,  I  desired  that  he  would  cherish    book 

IV* 

''  them  as  his  own,  and  train  them  up  in  a  ^^^'^^ 
''  manner  worthy  of  himself  and  of  pos-  ^'d. 
''•  terity.  But  Drusus  is  no  more:  I  now  -^• 
"'•  turn  to  you,  and,  in  the  presence  of  the 
"  gods,  in  the  hearing  of  my  country,  I  im- 
''  plore  you,  take  under  your  protection  the 
''great  grand-children  of  Augustus;  adopt 
"•'the  issue  of  an  illustrious  line;  support 
''  them,  mould  them  at  your  pleasure  for  tlie 
"  good  of  the  state  ;  perform  at  once  my  duty 
''  and  your  own.  As  for  you,  Nero,  andyou, 
^'  Drusus,  in  this  assembly  you  behold  your  fa- 
''  thers :  born  as  you  are  in  the  highest  station, 
^*  your  lot  is  such,  that  nothing  good  or  evil 
"  canbefal  you,  without  affecting,  at  the  same 
"  time,  the  interest  of  the  commonwealth." 

I X .  Th  I  s  speech  drew  tears  from  the  whole 
assembly  :  vows  and  supplications  followed. 
Had  Tiberius  known  Avhere  to  stop,  instead 
of  adding  what  exceeded  the  bounds  of  proba- 
bility, every  heart  would  have  been  touched 
with  sympathy,  and  every  mind  impressed 
with  the  glory  of  the  prince.  But  by  recur- 
ring to  the  stale  and  chimerical  project,  so 
often  heard  with  derision,  the  project  of  ab« 


13(5  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  clicating  the  sovereignty,  and  resigning  the 
reins  of  government  to  the  consuls,  or  any 
other  person  willing  to  undertake  the  task, 
he  weakened  the  force  of  sentiments  in  them- 
selves just  and  honourable.  The  solemnities 
which  had  been  decreed  to  the  memory  of  Ger- 
manicus,  were  renewed  in  Iionour  of  Drusus, 
with  considerable  additions,  agreeable  to  the 
genius  of  flattery,  always  studious  of  novelty. 
The  funeral  ceremony  was  distinguished  by  a 
long  train  of  illustrious  images.  In  the  pro- 
cession were  seen  jEneas,  the  father  of  the 
Julian  race :  the  Alban  kings  ;  Romulus,  the 
founder  of  Rome;  the  Sabine  nobility,  with 
Attus  Clausus  (a J  at  their  head,  and  from 
him  the  whole  line  of  the  Claudian  family. 

X.  In  this  account  of  the  death  of  Drusus^ 
the  best  and  most  authentic  historians  have 
been  my  guides.  A  report,  however,  which 
gained  credit  at  the  time,  and  has  not  yet 
died  away,  ought  not  to  be  omitted.  It  Avas 
currently  said,  that  Sejanus,  having  gained 
the  person  and  the  heart  of  Livia,  proceeded 
to  a  fouler  intrigue  with^Lygdus  the  eunuch, 
and,  by  an  infamous  amour,  drew  to  his  in-? 
terest  that  tool  of  iniquity,  ^yho  was  one  of 


A.D. 

23. 


OF  TACITUS.  iSJ 

the  domestic  attendants  of  Prusus,  and,  for  book 
his  yonth  and  the  graces  of  his  person,  high  "^^^^^ 
in  favoin-  with  his  master.  The  time  and  I'^^ 
place  for  administering  the  poison  being 
settled  by  the  conspirators,  Sejanus  had  the 
hardihood  to  change  his  plan,  lie  contrived 
by  secret  insinuations,  to  charge  Drusus 
with  a  plot  against  his  father's  Hfe,  and  dared 
to  whisper  a  caution  to  Tiberius,  not  to  taste 
the  first  cup  that  should  be  offered  to  him 
at  his  son's  table.  Deceived  by  this  stroke 
of  perfidy,  the  old  man  received  the  cup, 
and  presented  it  to  his  son.  The  prince,  with 
the  frankness  and  gaiety  of  youth,  drank  it 
off :  but  that  alacrity  served  only  to  confirm 
the  suspicions  entertained  by  the  emperor. 
His  conclusion  was,  that  Drusus,  over- 
wdielmed  with  fear  and  shame,  was  in  haste 
to  give  himself  the  death,  which  he  had  pre-^ 
pared  for  his  father. 

XI.  A  REPORT  of  this  kind,  current  among 
the  populace,  but  unsupported  by  any  good 
authority,  cannot  stand  the  test  of  examina- 
tion. What  man  of  plain  common-sense,  not 
tp  speak  of  a  consununate  statesman  like 
TiheriuSp  would  present  inevitable  death  to 


15^  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK  his   oiilv  son,  without  so  much  as  liearin^ 

IV.  '  "^ 

^^'^^  liim,  and  thus  precipitately  commit  a  fatal 
2'^;  deed,  never  to  be  recalled  ?  Would  it  not 
-^  have  been  more  natural  to  put  tlie  cup- 
bearer to  the  torture  ?  Why  not  enquire  who 
mixed  the  liquor  ?  Above  all,  is  it  probable 
that  Tiberius,  ever  slow  and  indecisive,  would 
at  once  forget  the  habits  of  his  nature,  and, 
in  the  case  of  an  only  son,  a  son  too  never 
charged  with  any  crime,  act  with  a  degree 
of  rashness,  which  he  had  never  practised 
to  the  remotest  stranger  ?  The  truth  is^ 
Sejanus  was  known  to  be  capable  of  every 
species  of  villainy,  however  atrocious  :  the 
partiality  of  the  emperor  increased  the  nimi- 
ber  of  his  enemies  ;  and,  both  the  sovereign 
and  the  favourite  being  objects  of  public  de- 
testation, malignity  itself  could  frame  no  tale 
so  black,  and  even  improbable,  that  men 
were  not  willing  to  believe. 

The  death  of  princes  is  alwa3\s  variously 
reported,  and  common  fame  is  sure  to  add 
a  tragic  catastrophe.  Some  years  afterwards, 
the  particulars  of  the  murder  were  brought 
to  liglit  by  Apicata,  the  widow  of  Sejanus, 
and  confirmed  by  Eudemus  and  I^gdus  ou 


OF    TACITUS.  139 

the  rack.  In  the  number  of  liistorians,  who  book 
were  envenomed  against  Tiberius,  and  v/ith 
dih"ence  collected  anecdotes  to  wai>'e  eternal 
war  against  his  memory,  not  one  has  gone 
so  far  as  to  impute  to  him  a  share  in  this 
foal  transaction.  The  stor}^  hov/ever,  such  as 
it  is,  I  have  represented  in  its  native  colours, 
willing  to  flatter  mj'self  that,  by  so  glaring 
an  instance,  I  may  destroj^  the  credit  of  fa- 
bulous narrations  c«j,  and  prevail  with  the 
reader,  into  whose  hands  this  work  may  fall, 
not  to  prefer  the  fictions  of  romance,  how- 
ever greedily  swallowed  by  vulgar  credulity, 
to  the  precision  of  sober  history. 

XII.  Tiberius,  in  a  public  speech,  de- 
livered the  funeral  panegyric  of  his  sonfaj. 
The  senate  and  the  people  attended  in  their 
mourning  garments  ;  but  their  grief  was  mere 
outward  shew,  the  effect  of  dissimulation, 
not  of  sentiment.  They  rejoiced  in  secret, 
conceivinG;  that  from  this  event  the  house  of 
Germanicus  would  be^in  to  flourish.  Eut 
the  dawn  of  happiness  was  soon  overclouded. 
The  exultation  of  the  people,  and  the  indis- 
cretion of  Agrippina,  who  had  not  the  policy 
to  suppress  the  emotions  of  her  heart,  acce- 


]40  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    lerated  licr  own  ruin,   and  that  of  her  sons, 

fV. 

^-^v^'  Emboldened   by  success,  Sejanus  was  ready 

A.U.    C.  •'  XT  1  1      " 

77(>-     to  SO  forward  in  oujlt.     He  saw  tlie   murder 

A.  D.  ~  ~ 

-^'  of  Drusus  pass  witli  impunity,  and  even 
without  a  sign  of  pubhc  regret.  Successful 
villainy  inspired  him  with  new  courage.  He 
saw  that  the  sons  of  Germanicus  were  the 
presumptive  heirs  ofTil^erius,  and  for  that 
reason  began  to  plot  their  destruction.  Being 
tlnxe  in  number,  they  could  not  all  be  taken 
off  by  poison,  while  a  set  of  faithful  atten- 
dants watched  them  with  a  vigilant  eye,  2^ni\ 
the  virtue  of  Agrippina  was  impregnable. 

That  very  virtue  was,  therefore,  to  be 
turned  against  her.  Sejanus  called  it  pride 
and  contumacy.  By  repeated  invectives  he 
roused  the  inverate  hatred  of  the  elder  Livia  ; 
and  the  \'ounger  of  the  name,  so  recently  an 
accomplice  in  the  murder  of  Drusus,  was 
easily  induced  to  join  in  a  second  conspiracy. 
They  represented  Agrippina  to  Tiberius  as  q, 
woman  proud  of  her  cliildren,  intoxicated  with 
popularity,  and  of  a  spirit  to  engage  in  any 
dangerous  enterprise.  The  widoAv  of  Drusqs 
knew  how  to  choose  fit  agents  for  her  pur-r 
pose.  Among  her  instruments  of  ini(|uity  wa$ 


OF    TACITUS. 


141 


Julius  Postluinius,  a  man  liigh  in  favour  with    ^  ook 
the  elder  Livia.    lie  had  been  for  some  time 
en<>a<2ed   in    an   adulterous   commerce    with 
Mutilia  Prisca,  and,  tlirough  her  influence, 
was  oraciously  received   at   court.     By  his 
subtle  practices,  and   the  whispers  conveyed 
by  Prisca,  the  old  woman,   naturally  fond  of 
poAver,  and  jealous  of  every  rival,  was  easily 
inflamed   against  her   "rand-dauohter.      At 
the  same  time,  such  of  Agrippina's  atten- 
dants   as   had  easy  access   to  her  presence, 
were   instructed  to  choose,   in  conversation 
with  their  mistress,  the  topics  most  likely  to 
exasperate   a    mind    lierce    with    pride,  and 
ready  to  take  fire  on  every  occasion. 

XIII.  Meanwiiii.e,  Tiberius,  hoping  to 
find  in  business  some  respite  from  the  anxieties 
of  his  heart,  attended  to  the  administration  of 
jiistice  in  all  disputes  be;tween  tlie  citizens  of 
Eome.  lie  likewise  heard  petitions  from  the 
provinces  and  tlie  allies.  At  his  desire,  the 
cities  of  Cibyra  fa  J  in  Asia,  and  ^'Egium  in 
Achaia,  which  had  suftered  by  an  earthquake, 
were  exempted  from  their  usual  tribute  for 
three  years.  Vibius  Serenus,  proconsul  of 
the  farther  Spain,  was  found  guilty  of  op- 
pression in  the  course  of  his  administr<j,tio.n. 


142  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  and,  being  a  man  of  savage  manners,  banish- 
ed to  the  Isle  of  Amomos.  Carsius  Sacer- 
dos,  accused  of  having  snpphed  Tacfarinas 
with  corn,  was  tried  and  acquitted.  Cains 
Gracchus  was  charged  with  the  same  crime, 
and  in  hke  manner  declared  innocent.  He 
had  been  carried  in  his  infancy  to  the  Isle  of 
Cercina  by  Sempronius  Gracchus  (h),  his 
father,  Avho  was  condemned  to  banishment. 
In  tliat  place,  amidst  a  crew  of  outlaws  and 
abandoned  fugitives,  he  grew  up  in  ignorance. 
To  gain  a  livelihood,  he  became  a  dealer  in 
petty  merchandize  on  the  coast  of  Africa 
and  Sicily.  His  obscurity,  hovv^ever,  did  not 
shelter  him  from  the  danoers  of  a  higher  sta^ 
lion.  Innocent  as  he  was,  if  ^lius  Lamia  frj 
and  Lucius  Apronius,  formerly  proconsuls  of 
Africa,  had  not  espoused  his  cause,  he  must 
'  have  sunk  under  the  weight  of  the  prosecu- 
tion, a  sacrifice  to  the  splendid  name  of  his 
family,  and  the  misfortunes  of  his  father. 

XIV.  In  the  coiu'se  of  the  year,  depu- 
tations from  Greece,  on  the  old  subject  of 
sanctuaries,  were  heard  before  the  senate. 
The  people  of  Samos  claimed  an  ancient  pri- 
vilege for  the  Temple  of  Juno  ;  and  those  of 
Coos,  for  that  of  /Lsculapius.     The  former 


23, 


OF   TACITUS.  143 

relied  on  a  decree  of  the  Ampliictyons  (a)^  book 
the  court  of  supreme  authority,  at  the  time  ^■^^^ 
when  colonies  from  Greece  were  in  possession  ^'^ 
of  the  maritime  parts  of  Asia.  The  deputies 
from  Coos  had  also  their  ancient  precedents, 
besides  a  claim  foimded  on  their  own  pecuHar 
merit.  In  the  general  massacre  of  the  Ro- 
man citizens  throudiout  Asia  and  the 
isles  adjacent,  committed  by  order  of  ]Mi- 
thridates  (b),  they  gave  a  refuge  to  numbers 
in  the  temple  of  yEsculapius.  This  business 
being  over,  the  complaint  against  the  licen- 
tiousness of  stage-players,  often  urged  by  the 
praetors,  and  always  without  effect,  was  taken 
up  by  Tiberius.  He  stated,  "  that  the  peo- 
•'  pie  of  that  profession  were  guilty  of  sedi- 
°''  tious  practices,  and,  in  many  instances,  cor- 
*'  rupted  the  morals  of  private  families.  The 
-'  buffoonery  of  the  Oscan  farce  (c),  which 
in  its  origin  afforded  but  little  pleasure 
even  to  the  dregs  of  the  people,  was  now 
"  grown  to  such  a  height  of  depravity,  as  well 
^'  as  credit,  that  the  mischief  called  for  the 
*'  interposition  of  the  senate.'*  The  players 
were  banished  out  of  Italy. 

XV.  Tiberius  felt  this  year  two  severe 
strokes  of  aftiiction :  he  lost  one  of  the  twin- 


ii 


l44  THE    ANNAL9 

BOOK   sons  of  Drnsus  (a),  and   also  his   intimate' 

IV.  ^  _  ^ 

friend  Lurilins  Longus,  a  man  connected  with 

liim  in  tlie  closest  friendship  ;  in  all  scenes, 
either  of  good  or  adverse  fortune,  his  faithful 
companion,  and,  of  all  the  senators,  the  only 
one  that  followed  him  in  his  retreat  to  the 
Isle  of  Rhodes.  Though  of  no  distinction, 
and  in  fact  a  new  man,  his  funeral  was  per- 
formed with  the  pomp  belonging  to  the  cen- 
sorial order  (b) ;  and  a  statue  was  decreed  to 
his  memory  in  theForumof  Augustus,  at  the 
public  expence.  All  business  was,  at  this 
time,  still  transacted  in  the  senate.  The 
forms  of  the  constitution  remained  ;  and  ac- 
Gordingh'^  Lucilius  Capito,  who  had  been 
collector  of  the  imperial  revenues  in  Asia, 
was  brought  to  his  trial  before  the  fathers^ 
at  the  suit  of  the  province.  Tiberius  thought 
proper  to  declare,  "  that  the  commission 
*'  granted  to  the  accused,  extended  only  to 
"  the  slaves  and  revenues  of  the  prince. 
''  Should  itappearthat  he  assumed  thepra^-* 
"  torian  authority,  and,  to  su|)port  his  usur- 
''  pation,  called  in  the  aid  of  the  military, 
*'  he  went  beyond  the  line  of  his  duty;  and, 
*^  in  that  case,  the  allegations  of  the  province 
**  ought  to  be  heard."  The  business  came  to 
a  hearing,  and  Capito  was  condemned.    The 


OF    TACITUS. 


145 


cities  of  Asia,  to  mark  their  sense  of  this  act  book 
of  justice,  and  their  gratitude  for  the  punish- 
ment of  Caius  Silanus  (c)  in  the  preceding 
year,  voted  a  statue  to  Tiberius,  to  Livia,  and 
the  senate.  Tiiey  apphed  to  the  fathers  for 
their  consent,  and  succeeded.  Nero,  in  the 
name  of  the  province,  returned  thanks  to  the 
senate  and  his  grandfather.  lie  was  heard 
with  pleasure  by  the  whole  audience.  Ger- 
manicus  was  still  present  to  tlieir  minds  ; 
and,  in  the  son,  men  fancied  that  they  saw 
and  heard  the  father.  The  figure  of  the  young 
prince  was  interesting.  An  air  of  modesty, 
united  to  the  dignity  of  his  person,  charmed 
every  eye  ;  and  the  well-known  animosity  of 
Sejanus  engaged  all  hearts  in  his  favour. 

XVI.  About  this  time  the  office  of  hio;h 
priest  of  Jupiter  became  vacant  by  the  death 
of  Servius  Maluginensis.  Tiberius,  in  a 
speech  to  the  senate,  proposed  that  they 
should  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  successor, 
and  at  the  same  time  pass  a  new  law  to  regu- 
late that  business  for  the  future.  The  cus- 
tom had  been  to  name  three  patricians,  de- 
scended from  a  marriage,  contracted  accord- 
insj  to  the  rites  of  confarreation  (a).  Out 

vol.  II.  L 


146 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK    of  the  r!ural)er  so  proposed,  one  ivas  to  be 

IV.  i  A 

v-^-Y-^  elected.     ''  But  this  mode  was  no  longer  in 

A.  U.  C. 

776.     "  use.     Tlie  ceremony  of  confarreation  was 

A.  D. 

ts. '  ''  grown  obsolete  ;  or,  if  observed,  it  was  by 
"  a  iew  fliinilies  only.  Of  this  alteration 
*'  many  causes  might  be  assigned  ;  and  chiefly 
'*  the  inattention  of  both  sexes  to  the  in- 
"  terests  of  religion.  The  ceremonies,  it  is 
'•'  true,  arc  attended  with  some  difficulty  ; 
*'  and  for  that  reason  they  are  fallen  into  dis- 
''  use.  Besides  this,  the  priest  so  chosen 
"'  was  no  longer  subject  to  paternal  authority; 
''  and  the  woman,  who  gave  him  her  hand  in 
''  marriage,  was  in  titled  to  the  same  exemp- 
*'  tion.  To  remedy  these  inconveniences,  a 
*'  law  is  necessary.  Mduy  customs,  that  held 
*'  too  much  of  the  rigour  of  antiquity,  were 
"  new  modelled  by  Augustus  in  conformity 
*'  to  the  polislied  manners  of  the  times.'' 

After  due  deliberation,  it  was  thought  ad- 
visable by  the  fathers  to  leave  the  priesthood 
on  its  old  establishment,  without  innovation. 
With  regard  to  the  priestess,  a  new  law  took 
place.  In  her  religious  functions,  it  was  de- 
clared, that  she  should  be  in  the  power  of  her 
husbaiKl  only,  subject  in  all  (./[her  respects  ta 


OP    TACITUS. 

the  laws  of  her  sex,  without  any  privilege  to 
distinojuish  her  from  other  women.  The  son 
of  Maluginensis  succeeded  to  his  father.  In 
order  to  n^ive  new  weio'ht  and  consideration 
to  the  sacerdotal  order,  and  to  inspire  the 
ministers  of  the  altar  with  zeal  for  the  sacred 
rites,  a  grant  of  two  thousand  great  sesterces 
was  ordered  for  Cornelia,  the  vestal  virgin^ 
who  was  at  this  time  chosen  superior  of  the 
order,  in  tlie  room  of  Scantia.  In  compli- 
ment to  Livia  it  was  further  decreed,  that, 
whenever  she  visited  the  theatre,  her  seat 
should  be  among  the  vestal  virgins. 


XVII.  In  the  consulship  of  Cornelius  a.u.  c 
Cethegus  and  Visellius  Varro,  the  pontiffs,  a.d. 
and,  after  their  example,  the  other  orders  of 
the  priesthood,  thought  proper  to  blend  with 
the  solemn  vows  which  they  offdsed  for  the 
safety  of  the  emperor,  the  names  of  Nero  and 
Drusus.  Zeal  for  the  young  princes  was  not 
altogether  their  motive  :  they  had  an  indirect 
design  to  pay  their  court.  But  in  that  age 
the  safe  line  of  conduct  was  not  easily  settled. 
To  abstain  from  flattery  was  dangerous  ;  and 
to  be  lavish  of  it,  pi^ovoked  contempt,  and 
even  resentment.   Tiberius,  never  friendly  to 

I,  2 


113  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK  the  house  of  Germariicus,  saw  witli  indio-na- 
tiou  two  boys  exalted  to  a  level  with  himself. 
He  ordered  the  pontiffs  to  attend  him.  In 
the  interview  that  followed,  he  desired  to 
know  whether,  in  what  they  had  done,  tliey 
complied  either  with  the  solicitations  or  the 
menaces  of  Agrippina.  Being  answered  in 
the  negative,  he  dismissed  tliem  with  a  repri- 
mand, but  in  gentle  terms,  most  of  the  order 
being  either  his  relations,  or  the  first  men  in 
Rome.  Not  content,  however,  with  express- 
ing his  disapprobation  in  private,  he  desired, 
in  a  speech  to  the  senate,  that  all  might  be 
upon  their  guard,  not  to  inflame  the  minds 
of  young  men  with  ideas  of  power,  and,  by 
consequence,  witli  a  spirit  above  their  station. 
Sejaiuis  was  the  prompter  in  this  business. 
He  had  the  ear  of  the  emperor,  and  filled  him 
with  apprehensions  that  Rome  was  divided 
into  factions,  inflamed  against  each  other  with 
no  less  fury  than  if  they  were  actually  en- 
gaged in  a  civil  war.  There  were  those,  he 
said,  who  called  themselves  the  partisans  of 
Agrippina  :  if  not  suppressed,  they  would  in 
time  become  too  powerful.  To  check  the 
growing  discord,  there  was  nothing  left  but  to 
cut  off  one  or  two  of  the  most  active  leaders-. 


OP    TACITUS.  l^S 

X VIII .  The  first  blow  w^%  struck  at  Caius    book 

IV. 

Silius  and  Titius  Sabiiius.    Their  connection  ^-^rTT^ 

A.  U.  C, 

with  Germanicus  was  their  crime  ;  but  Silius  ^"J- 
was  obnoxious  for  various  rea.sons.  He  liad  -^ 
been,  during  a  space  of  seven  years,  at  the 
head  of  a  powerfid  army;  by  his  conduct  in 
Germany  he  had  gained  triumphal  orna- 
ments ;  he  conquered  Sacrovir,  and  quelled 
the  insurrection  in  Gaul.  Fallino;  from  that 
elevation,  liis  ruin  would  resound  far  and 
wide,  and  spread  a  general  terror.  His  own 
indiscretion  was  thou::;]it  at  the  time  to  have 
incensed  Tiberius,  and,  by  consequence,  it 
provoked  his  fate.  Success  inspired  him 
with  vain-glory.  He  boasted,  that  the  army 
under  his  command  continued  in  firm  fide- 
litv,  while  sedition  raised  her  standard  in 
every  other  camp  ;  and  if  the  spirit  of  revolt 
had  reached  his  legions,  the  imperial  dignity 
would  have  tottered  on  the  head  of  the  prince. 
Tiberius  took  the  alarm  :  he  thoui2;ht  his 
own  importance  lessened,  and  his  fortune, 
great  as  it  was,  unable  to  recojnpense  such 
extraordinary  services.  He  felt  himself  un- 
der oblii>;ations  to  Ids  officer  ;  and  obli<>'a- 
tions  (such  is  the  nature  of  the  human  mind) 
e,re  only  then  acknowledged,  when  it  is  in 
our  power  to  requite  them:  jf  they  exceed 


^^^  THE    ANNALS 

^{^°K   all  measurej  to  be  insolvent  is  painful,  ancl 
gratitude  gives  way  to  hatred. 

XIX.  SosiA   Galla,  the   wife  of  Silius, 
was  closely  connected  with  Agrippina,  and, 
for  that  reason,  detested  by  Tiberius.     She 
and  her  husband  were  doomed  to  fall  an  inir 
mediate  sacrifice.     Sabinus  was  reserved  for 
a   future    day.      Against    the    two    former, 
Varro,  the  consul,  undertook  the  despicable 
part  of  public  prosecutor.      Pretending  to 
adopt  the  resentments  of  his  father,  he  be- 
came the  servile  agent  of  Sejanus.     Silius  re- 
quested that  the  trial  might  be  deferred,  till 
the  consul,  now  turned  accuser,  should  cease 
to  be  in  office.     Thouo;h  the  interval  was 
short,  Tiberius  opposed  the  motion,  alledg- 
ing,  that  men  were  frequently  arraigned  by 
the  other  magistrates  ;  and  why  abridge  the 
authority  of  the  consul  .>  It  is   his  duty  tq 
take  care  that  the  commonwealth  may  re- 
ceive no  injury.     Such  was  the  state-craft  of 
Tiberius  :  to   crimes  invented  by  himself  he 
gave  the  old  republican  names,  and  by  that 
artifice  amused  the  public. 

The   senate  was   summoned  with  regular 
solemnity,  as  if  tiie  proceeding  was  to  be  ac- 


OF    TACITUS.  15] 


IV. 

A.  U.  C. 

777. 
A.  D. 


cording  to  law  ;  as  if  Varro  was,  in  truth,  Booii 
acting  the  part  of  consul,  and  in  the  reign  of 
Tiberius  the  constitution  still  remained  in 
vis>"our.  Silius  made  no  defence.  lie  broke  "* 
feilence,  indeed,  at  different  times,  but  merely 
to  shew  that  he  saw  in  what  quarter  tlie  arm 
of  oppression  was  raised  against  him.  The 
heads  of  the  accusation  were,  that,  in  a  dark 
conspiracy  with  Sacrovir,  he  concealed  the 
machinations  of  that  insurgent  ;  that  his  vic- 
tory was  tarnished  by  cruelty,  and  that,  with 
Jiis  connivance,  acts  of  rapacity  and  oppres- 
sion were  committed  by  his  wife.  The  last 
article  was  too  avcII  founded  ;  but  the  prose- 
cution went  altogether  on  the  crime  of  vio- 
lated majesty.  Silins  saw  that  his  doom  was 
fixed,  and,  to  prevent  final  judgment,  put 
an  end  to  his  life, 

XX.  The  law,  notwithstanding,  laid  hold 
of  his  effects;  not  however  to  make  restitu- 
tion to  the  Gauls  ;  for  the  Gauls  made  no 
claim.  The  whole  of  what  the  unhappy 
victim  had  received  from  the  bounty  of  Au- 
gustus, after  an  exact  estimate  made,  wa.s 
seized,  and  carried  into  the  treasury  of  tlie 
prince.  In  this  instance,  Tiberius,  for  the 
iirst  time,  looked  with  the  eye  of  avarice  on 


152  THE    ANNALS 

/ 

BOOK  ilie  property  of  others.  On  the  motion  of 
Asinius  Gallus,  Sosia  was  ordered  into  exile. 
By  that  senator  it  was  further  proposed,  that 
part  of  her  effects  should  be  confiscated,  and 
the  remainder  o'iven  to  her  children.  Manius 
I^pidus  contended,  that  one  fourth  should 
go,  disfaj  the  law  directed,  to  the  prosecu- 
tors, and  the  residue  to  her  children.  This 
sentence  prevailed.  It  is  but  justice  to  the 
character  of  Lepidus  (hj,  to  observe  in  this 
place,  that,  considering  the  times  in  which  he 
lived,  he  appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  abi^ 
lity,  temperate,  wise,  and  upright.  The  vio- 
lent measiu'es  often  proposed  by  others,  al- 
ways the  result  of  servile  adulation,  were,  by 
his  address,  frequently  rejected,  altered,  or 
modified,  with  so  much  cpood-sense  and  tem- 
per,  that  he  preserved  at  once  his  credit  at; 
court,  and  the  esteem  of  the  public. 

This  happiness,  so  shigular  and  so  fairly 
enjoyed,  arrests  our  attention,  and  naturally 
raises  an  enquiry  whether  the  favour  or  anti- 
pathy of  princes,  like  all  other  sublunary 
contingencies,  is  governed  by  the  immutal)le 
laws  of  fate  (cj;  aiid,  by  consequence,  the 
lot  of  man  niay  be  said  to  be  determined  in 
his  natal  hour.     The  question  is  intricate; 


III. 
A.D. 

24. 


OF    TACITUS.  J 53 

but  perhaps  free  will  and  moral  agency  are  book 
still  so  far  alio Aved,  that  each  mdividual  may  ^^'^]^ 
chalk  out  the  line  of  liis  own  conduct,  and, 
by  steering  between  the  opposite  extremes 
of  blunt  austerity  and  abject  meanness,  pur- 
sue a  middle  course  a\  ith  safety  and  with  ho- 
nour. Messalinus  Cotta,  a  man  equal  in 
point  of  birth  to  Manius  Lepidus,  but  of  a 
very  different  character,  moved  for  a  decree, 
declarino-  that  all  magistrates,  however  blame- 
less  in  their  own  conduct,  and  even  ignorant 
of  the  guilt  of  others,  should,  notwithstand- 
ing, be  responsible  for  the  unlawful  acts  con^- 
mitted  in  the  provinces  by  their  wives. 

XXI.  The  business  brou2;ht  forward  in 
the  next  place,  was  the  charge  against  Cal- 
purnius  Piso  (aj,  that  illustrious  citizen,  dis- 
tinguished not  more  by  the  nobility  of  his 
birth,  than  by  his  unshaken  virtue,  who,  as 
has  been  related,  threatened  a  secession  from 
Home,  in  order  to  find,  in  some  remote  place, 
a  shelter  from  the  vices  of  the  age,  and  the 
harpies  of  the  law.  It  may  be  remembered, 
likewise,  that,  in  the  cause  against  Urgulania, 
he  scorned  to  yield  to  the  weight  and  influ- 
euce  of  the  emperor's  mother,  but  cited  the 


34  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    (lefeiidaut  from  the  very  palace  of  the  prince. 

IV.  ^ 

His  conduct,  at  the  time,  was  treated  by  Ti- 
berius as  the  exercise  of  a  civil  right ;  but 
in  a  mind  like  his,  that  which  at  first  made 
a  slight  impression,  was  sure  to  be  embit- 
tered by  reflection.  Quintus  Granius  was 
the  prosecutor  of  Piso.  He  exhibited  an  ac- 
cusation for  words  spoken  in  private  against 
the  majesty  of  the  emperor;  for  keeping 
poison  in  his  house  ;  and  entering  the  senate 
wdth  a  concealed  dai^wr.  The  tv/o  last  arti- 
cles,  too  gross  to  be  believed,  were  thrown 
out  of  the  case.  Other  allecrations  were 
lieaped  together  to  swell  the  charge  ;  and 
Piso,  it  was  determined,  was  to  be  brought 
to  his  trial  :  but  a  natural  death  put  an  end 
to  the  prosecution. 

A  new  complaint  was  presented  to  the 
senate  against  Cassius  Severus  fb),  a  man  of 
mean  extraction,  void  of  principle,  profligate 
in  his  manners,  but  an  orator  of  considerable 
eloquence.  He  had  been,  by  a  judgment, 
pronounced  under  the  sanction  of  an  oath, 
concemned  to  exile  in  the  Isle  of  Crete.  Per^ 
sisting  there  in  his  licentious  practices,  he 
rekindled  the  indignation  of  the  fathers,  and 

3 


OF    TACITUS. 


155 


by  new  vices  provoked  new  enemies.     Strip-    book 

ped  of  all  his  effects,  and  interdicted  from   ' — - — ' 
\  '  A.  u.  c. 

fire  and  water,  he  was  removed  to  the  Isle  of    J'^Z- 

^  A.  D. 

Seriphos  (cj,  where,  in  old  age  and  misery,      ^4. 
he  languished  on  the  rocks. 

XXII.  About  this  time  Plautius  Silvanus, 
one  of  the  prastors,  impelled  by  some  secret 
motive,  threw  his  wife  Apronia  out  of  the 
window  of  her  apartment,  and  killed  her  on 
the  spot.  Being  immediately  seized  by  his 
father-in-law,  Lucius  Apronius,  and  convey- 
ed to  the  presence  of  the  emperor,  he  made 
answer,  with  an  air  of  distraction,  that,  while 
he  lay  asleep,  his  wife  committed  that  act  of 
violence.  Tibei'ius  went  directly  to  the 
house.  He  examined  the  apartment,  and 
saw  evident  signs  of  a  person  who  had  strug- 
gled, but  was  overcome  by  force.  He  made 
his  report  to  the  senate,  and  commissioners; 
were  appointed  to  enquire  and  pronounce 
their  judgment.  Urgulania,  the  grandmo- 
ther of  Silvanus,  sent  a  dagger  to  him  as  her 
best  present.  This,  on  account  of  her  known 
intimacy  with  Livia,  was  supposed  to  pro- 
ceed from  Tiberius.  The  criminal,  after  at- 
tempting, but  with  irresolution,  to  apply 
the  tlagger  to  his  breast,  ordej-ed  his  veins 


A.  U.  C. 

777. 
AD. 


56  TIJE    ANNALS 

BOOK    to  be   openerl.     In  a  sliort  time  afterwards 
Numantina,  liis  foniier  wife,  "vvas  accused  of 
having,  by  drugs  and  magic  spells,   distem- 
M.      pared  his  brain.     She  ^yas  acquitted  of  the 
change. 


XXIII.  The  war  with  Tacfarinas,  the 
Xuniidiari,  by  whiich  Rome  had  been  long 
embroiled,  was  this  year  happily  terminated. 
-The  former  commanders,  as  soon  as  tiieyhad 
laid  a  foundation  for  tlie  obtaining  of  tri- 
umphal ornaments,  considered  their  busi- 
ness  as  finished,  and  gave  the  enemy  time  to 
breathe.  There  were  at  Rome  no  less  than 
three  statues  faj  decorated  with  laurel,  and 
yet  Tacfarinas  ravaged  the  province.  He 
Vv'as  reinforced  by  the  neighbouring  JMoors, 
ivho  saw  with  indignation  their  new  kini>', 
Ptolemy,  the  son  of  Ju])a  fbj,  resign,  with 
youthful  inexperience,  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment to  his  freedmcn.  Tlie  malcontents  of 
that  nation  went  over  to  the  banners  of  Tac- 
farinas, determined  to  try  the  fortune  of 
war,  rather  than  tamely  submit  to  the  ty-r 
ranny  of  enfrancliised  slaves.  The  king  fcj 
of  the  Garamantes  entered  into  a  secret 
league  v»'ith  the  Numidian.  Not  choosinsf 
to  take  the  field  at  the  head  of  his  forces,  ha 


OF  TACITUS. 


13? 


/  ;7. 

A-   D. 

24, 


helped  to   carry  on  a   war  of  depredation.    Boost 
His  dominions  were  a  depository  for  all  their  ^^^:r^ 

^  ^  A.  U.  C. 

plunder.  His  troops  went  out  in  detaclied 
parties,  and,  as  is  usual  in  all  distant  com- 
motions, were  ma^nilied  by  tlie  voice  of 
fame  into  a  prodigious  arnw.  Even  from  the 
fdj  Roman  province,  all  who  struggled  with 
want,  or  by  their  crimes  were  rendered  des- 
perate, vrent  over  to  Taciarinas.  A  recent 
incident  encouraged  the  revolt.  In  conse- 
quence  of  the  success  of  Eia:sus,  Tiberius, 
thinking  the  v;ar  at  an  end,  ordered  the 
ninth  legion  to  be  recalled.  Dolabella,  the 
proconsul  for  the  year,  saw  the  inexpeclience 
of  the  measure ;  but  dreading  the  anger  of 
Tiberius  more  than  tbe  incursions  of  the 
enemy,  he  did  not  venture,  even  for  tiie  de- 
fence of  the  province,  to  detain  the  troops. 

XXIV.  Tacfarinas,  availing  liimself  of 
this  circumstance,  spread  a  rumour  round 
the  country,  that  the  lloman  empire  being 
invaded  on  every  side,  Africa,  by  degrees. 
was  to  be  evacuated,  and  tlie  remainder  of 
the  legions  might  be  easily  cut  off,  if  all  who 
preferred  their  liberty  to  ignominious  bond- 
age, would  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  their 
country.     He  gained,   by   tliese  artifices,  a 


158  THE    ANNALS 

r 

BOOK   new  accession  of  strencfth,  and  laid  sleae  to 

VI.  O         -'  '     o 

the  city   of  Thubuscum.     Dolabella,    with 
what  force  lie    could  collect,  marched  to  the 
relief  of  the  place.     The  terror  of  the  Ro- 
man name  was  on  liis  side,  and  the  affair  was 
with  an  enemy,  who  could  never  sustain  the 
shock  of  a  well-embodied  infantry.     lie  no 
sooner  shewed  him' elf  in  force,  than  the  Nu- 
midian  abandoned  the  siege.     Dolabella,  at 
all  convenient  places,  fortiiied  his  posts,  and 
stationed   garrisons  to  secure    the   country. 
Finding  the  iMnsulanians  on  the  point  of  a 
revolt,  he  seized   their  chiefs,    and  ordered 
their  heads    to   be  struck   off.     Experience 
had  taught  him,  that  a  regular  army,   en- 
cumbered with  baggage,  could   give   but  a 
bad  account  of  a  wild  and  desultory  enemy, 
who  made  war   by  sudden   incursions,  and 
avoided  a  decisive  action :  he  therefore  re- 
solved to  vary  his   operations,  and  having 
called  to  his  aid  the  young  king  Ptolemy,  at 
the  head  of  a  large  body  of  his  subjects,  he 
divided  his  army  into  four  detached  parties^, 
under  the  command  of  liis  lieutenants,  and 
the  military   tribunes.     A   chosen   band  of 
Moors,  conducted  by  officers  of  that  nation, 
had    orders  to    ravage   the    country.     The 
proconsul  marched  himself  in  person,  ready 


OF    TACITUS.  159 

at  hand  to    direct  the  motions  of  his  army,    ^^^^ 

IV. 

and  give  vigour  to  tlie  enterprise.  ITlPc 

777. 
A.  D. 

XXV^.  Intelligence  was  brouidit  soon  *''■ 
after,  that  the  Numidians,  depending  upon 
the  advantages  of  a  situation  encompassed 
b3^a  depth  of  forests,  had  pitched  their  huts 
near  the  ruins  of  a  castle,  called  Auzea  f^O^ 
which  they  had  formerly  destroyed  by  lire. 
The  cavalry  and  light  cohorts,  ignorant  of 
their  destination,  were  sent  forward  vrithout 
delay.  They  made  a  forced  march  in  the 
night,  and  at  break  of  day  arrived  before 
the  place.  The  Barbarians,  scarce  avrake, 
were  alarmed  on  every  side  with  warlike 
shouts  and  the  clangor  of  trumpets.  Their 
horses  were  either  fastened  to  stakes,  or  let 
loose  to  wander  on  the  pasture  grounds. 
The  Romans  advanced  in  order  of  battle, 
their  infantry  in  close  array,  and  the  cavalry 
prepared  for  action.  The  Barbarians  Avere 
taken  by  surprise,  no  arms  at  hand,  no  or- 
der, no  concerted  measure.  They  were  at- 
tacked Avitliout  delay,  and  like  a  herd  of  cat- 
tle mangled,  butchered,  taken.  Tlie  Roman 
soldiers,  fierce  with  resentment  for  all  tlieir 
toil  and  fatigue,  rushed  v.ith  fury  against  an 
enemv,  who  had  so  often   fled   from  their 


160 


THE   ANNALS 


BOOK  svrord.  The  victorious  troops  were  glutted 
'  with  Nuraidiaii  blood.  The  word  was  given 
through  the  ranks,  that  Tacfariiias  w^as  the 
proper  object  of  their  vengeance  :  his  per- 
son was  Avell  known  ;  his  death,  and  nothing 
less,  could  end  the  war.  Tliat  dariuir  adven- 
turer  saw  his  guards  fall  on  every  side.  His 
son  was  already  in  fetters,  and  he  himself 
hemmed  in  by  the  Romans.  In  despair  he 
rushed  forward,  where  the  shower  of  darts 
was  tliickest,  and,  selling  his  life  at  the 
dearest  rate,  had  tlie  glory  of  dying  in  free- 
dom. This  event  quieted  the  commotions 
in  Africa. 

XXVI.  For  these  services  Dolabella  ex- 
pected triumphal  ornaments  :  but  Tiberius, 
apprehending  that  Sejanus  would  think  the 
lionours,  granted  to  his  vmcle  Bla?3us,  tar- 
nished by  the  success  of  a  rival,  refused  to 
comply  wdth  the  request.  Bla^sus  gained  no 
addition  to  his  tame,  while  that  of  Dolabella 
grew  brighter  j)y  injustice.  With  an  inferior 
army,  he  had  taken  a  number  of  prisoners, 
amoni^^  whom  were  the  leadino- chiefs  of  the  na- 
tion  ;  and,  by  the  death  of  Tacfarinas,  he  put 
an  end  to  the  war.  At  his  return  from  Africa,  he 
gave  a  spe^ctacle  rarely  seen  at  Home,  a  train 


A.  U.  C, 

777. 
AD. 


DP    TACITUS.  161 

of  ambassadors  from  the  Garamantes  !  The 
people  of  that  country,  conscious  of  their  guilt, 
and  by  the  death  of  the  Numidian  chief  thrown 
into  consternation,  sent  their  deputies  to  ap-  ^'^ 
pease  the  resentment  of  the  emperor.  The 
Services  of  king  Ptolemy  being  stated  to  the 
senate,  an  ancient  custom,  long  since  fallen 
into  disuse,  was  revived  in  honour  of  that 
monarch .  The  fathers  sent  a  member  of  their 
body,  to  present  fa  J  an  ivory  sceptre  and  a 
painted  robe,  the  ancient  gift  to  kings,  with  in- 
.structions,  at  the  same  time,  to  salute  young 
Ptolemy,  by  the  titles  of  King,  Ally,  and 
Friend  of  the  Roman  People, 

XXVII.  During  the  same  summer,  a  ser- 
vile war  was  ready  to  break  out  in  Italy ;  but, 
by  a  fortunate  accident,  the  flame  was  soon 
extinguished.  The  incendiary,  who  excited 
the  commotion,  Avas  formerly  a  soldier  in  the 
praetorian  bands,  by  name  Titus  Curtisius. 
This  man  began  his  seditious  practices  in  pri- 
vate cabals  at  Brundusium,  and  tlie  adjacent ' 
towns.  Having  made  his  impression,  he  went 
the  length  of  [ixing  up  in  public  places  seditious 
libels,  inviting  the  agrarian  slaves  to  issue  from 
their  woods  and  vviids,  and  take  up  arms  in 

rot.  If.  M 


162  THE  ANNALS. 

BOOK  the  cause  of  liberty.    It  happened,  however, 
•^"^  that  three  galleys,  employed  in  the  navigation 

^'^  of  those  seas,  arrived  providentially  on  the 
^*'  coast.  Curtius  Lupus,  the  qua3stor,  in  whose 
province  it  was,  according  to  ancient  usage, 
to  superintend  the  roads  faj  through  the 
forests,  was,  at  that  time,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood. He  ordered  the  mariners  to  be  landed, 
and,  putting  himself  at  their  head,  crushed 
the  conspiracy  in  the  bud.  Statins,  a  mili- 
tary tribune,  had  been,  on  the  first  alarm, 
dispatched  by  Tiberius  with  a  strong  band  of 
soldiers.  He  arrived  in  good  time,  and,  hav- 
ing seized  the  chief  conspirators  with  their 
leader,  returned  to  Rome  with  his  prisoners 
bound  in  chains.  The  capital,  at  that  time, 
was  iar  from  being  in  a  state  of  tranquillity. 
Men  saw,  with  terror,  a  vast  multitude  of 
slaves  increasing  (b)  beyond  all  proportion, 
while  the  number  of  freeborn  citizens  was 
visibly  on  the  decline. 

XXVHI.  During  tliesame  consulship,  a 
scene  of  horror,  that  gave  a  shock  to  nature, 
and  marked  the  cruelty  of  the  times,  was 
acted  in  the  face  of  the  world.  A  father 
pleaded  for  his  life,  whik  the  son  stood  forth 


OF    TACITUS. 


163 


tv. 


the  accuser.     The  name  of  each  was  Vibius    book 
Sereiius  foj.     They  appeared  before  the  se- 
nate.    The  father  had  been  banished ♦     He 
was  now  draggjed  from  his  retreat,  deformed 
with  filth,  and  loaded  with  irons  ;  a  spectacle 
of  misery.     The  son  came  forward  in  trim 
apparel,  ease  in  his  mien,  and  alacrity  in  his 
countenance.     He  charged  the  old  man  with 
a  conspiracy  against  the  life  of  the  etnperor, 
and  with  sending  emissaries  into  Gaul  to  km- 
die  the  flame  of  rebellion  ;  and  thus  the  son 
acted  in  a  double  character,  at  once  the  ac- 
cuser, and  the  witness.  He  added,  that  Ca^ci- 
lius  Cornutus,  of  praetorian  rank,  supplied  the 
accomplices  with  money.     Cornutus,  weary 
of  life,  and  knowing  that  a  prosecution  was  a 
prelude  to  destruction,  laid  violent  hands  on 
himself.     Serenus,  on  the  contrary,  with  a 
spirit  undismayed,  fixed  his  eye  on  his  son, 
and  clanking  his  chains,  exclaimed,  '*  Restore 
'*  me,  just  and  vindictive  gods !  restore  me  to 
'*  my  place  of  banishment,  far  from  the  sight 
"  of  men,  who  suffer  such  an  outrage  to  hu- 
**  manity .  For  that  parricide,  may  your  ven- 
*'  geance,  in  due  time,  overtake  his  guilt."  He 
pronounced  Cornutus  an  innocent  man,  but 
destitute  of  courage,  weak,  and  easily  alarmed. 

M  S 


l64  THE    ANNALS 

He  desired  that  the  confederates  in  the  plot 
might  be  named,  and,  by  a  minute  enquiv}-, 
the  truth,  he  said,  would  be  brouiiht  to  liiiht. 
''  For  can  it  be,  that,  witli  only  one  accom- 
''  plice,  I  should  undertake  to  imbrue  my 
'*  hands  in  the  blood  of  the  emperor,  and  to 
*'  overturn  the  government?" 

XXIX.  The  informer  o'ave  in  the  names 
of  Cneius  Lentulus  and  Seius  Tubero.  The 
mention  of  those  men  threw  Tiberius  into  con- 
fusion. They  were  both  of  illustrious  rank, 
both  his  intimate  friends.  That  Lentulus,  in 
the  evening  of  his  days,  and  Tubero  drooping 
under  bodily  infirmity  should  be  charged  with 
meditating  an  insurrection  in  Gaul,  and  a  con- 
spiracy against  the  state,  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  his  spirits.  Against  them  no  further 
enquiry  was  made.  The  slaves  of  the  as^ed 
father  were  examined  on  the  rack,  and,  by 
their  testimony,  every  allegation  was  refuted. 
The  son,  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  his  guilt, 
and  terrified  by  the  indignation  of  the  popu- 
lace, who  threatened  (a J  the  dungeon,  the 
Tarpeian  rock,  and  all  the  pains  and  penaltie!? 
of  parricidC)  made  his  escape  from  Rome,  He 
M'as  retaken  at  Ravenna,  and  carried  back  to 


OF    TACITUS- 


165 


proceed  in  his  accusation,  and  gratify  the    book 
spleen  of  Tiberius,  who  hated  the  old  man,  '^^'^^ 
and,  upon  this  occasion,  did  not  di.sguise  his     ^^^^ 
rancour.  Vibius,-it  seems,  soon  after  the  con-      ~*' 
demnation  of  Libo  (b),  complained  by  letter 
to  the  emperor,  that  his  services  in  that  busi- 
ness had  not  been  duly  recompensed.     The 
style  of  his  remonstrance  was  more  free  and 
bold  than  can  with  safety  be  addressed  to  the 
proud  ear  of  power,  at  all  times  sensibly  alive 
to  every  expression,  and  easily  alarmed.    At 
the  distance  of  eight  years  Tiberius  shewed 
that  he  had  been  ruminatini^  mischief.    The 
intermediate  time,  he  said,  though  no  proof 
could  be  extorted  from  the  slaves,  was  passed 
by  the  prisoner  in  a  continued  series  of  atro^ 
cious  crimes. 

XXX.  The  question  being  put,  the  majo- 
rity was  for  a  capital  punishment,  according 
to  the  rigour  of  ancient  law.  Tiberius,  to 
soften  popular  prejudice,  opposed  so  harsh  a 
sentence.  Asinius  Gallus  moved  that  Serenus 
should  be  banished  to  the  Isle  of  Gyarus  or 
Doiiusa.  This  also  was  opposed  by  the  em- 
peror. In  those  islands  there  was  a  dearth  of 
water ;  and  when  life  is  sjraated,  the  means  of 


166  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  supporting  it  ought  to  follow.  The  old  man 
was  remanded  to  the  island  of  Amorgos.  As 
Cornutus  had  dispatched  himself,  a  motion 
was  made,  that  whenever  the  person  accused 
of  violated  majesty,  prevented  judgment  by  a 
voluntary  death,  the  informers  should  be  en- 
titled to  no  reward  (a).  The  fathers  inclined 
to  that  opinion ;  but  Tiberius,  in  plain  terms, 
without  his  usual  ambiguity,  shewed  himself 
the  patron  of  the  whole  race  of  informers. 
'^  The  course  of  justice,"  he  said,  ''would  be 
'*  stopt,  and,  by  such  a  decision,  the  common- 
*'  wealth  would  be  brought  to  the  brink  of 
*'  ruin.  It  were  better  to  abrogate  all  laws  at 
^'  once.  If  we  must  have  laws,  Jet  us  not  re- 
*  ■  move  the  vigilance  that  gives  them  energy." 
In  this  manner  that  pernicious  crew,  the  bane 
and  scourge  of  society,  who,  in  fact,  have  never 
been  effectually  restrained,  were  now  let  loose, 
with  the  wages  of  iniquity  in  view,  to  harass 
and  destroy  their  fellow  citizens. 

XXXI.  Through  the  cloud  of  these  tem- 
pestuous times  a  gleam  of  joy  broke  forth. 
Caius  Cominius,  a  Roman  knight,  was  con- 
victed for  being  author  of  defamatory  verses 
against  the  emperor;  but  at  the  intercession  of 


OF    TACITUS.  167 

his  brother,  a  member  of  the  senate,  Tiberius  book 
pardoned  tlie  offence.  This  act  of  lenity, 
standing  in  contrast  to  a  series  of  evil  deeds, 
made  men  wonder,  that  he,  who  knew  the  fair 
renown  that  waits  on  the  virtues  of  humanity, 
sliould  persevere  in  the  practice  of  cruelty  and 
oppression.  Want  of  discernment  was  not 
amono-  the  faults  of  Tiberius  ;  nor  was  he  mis- 
led  by  the  applause  of  temporizing  courtiers. 
Between  the  praise  which  adulation  offers,  and 
that  which  flows  from  sentiment,  a  mind  like 
his  could  easily  distinguish.  His  0^1  manner 
marked  his  sense  of  good  and  evil.  Though 
close  and  guarded  on  most  occasions,  even  to 
a  degree  of  hesitation,  it  was  remarkable,  that, 
when  he  meant  a  generous  act,  his  language 
was  fluent,  clear,  and  unequivocal. 

In  a  matter  that  came  on  soon  after,  against 
Publius  Suilius  (a J,  formerly  qua3stor  under 
Germanicus,  and  now  convicted  of  bribery  in 
a  cause  where  he  sat  in  judgment,  the  emperor, 
not  content  with  a  general  sentence  of  banish- 
ment out  of  Italy,  insisted  that  he  ought  to  be 
confined  to  an  island.  This  decision  he  urged 
in  a  tone  of  vehemence,  averring,  with  the  so- 
lemnity of  an  oath,  that  the  interest  of  the 


15s  THE    ANKALS 

BOOK  commonwealth  required  it.  Andyettliis  pro?^ 
ceedino",  condemned  at  the  time,  as  harsh  and 
violent,  was,  in  a  subsequent  reign,  allowed  to 
be  founded  in  justice.  Suilius  was  recalled 
by  Claudius.  He  then  announced  his  real 
character;  proud,  imperious,  corrupt  and  vcr 
iial ;  high  in  favour  with  the  reigning  prince, 
and  using  his  influence  for  the  worst  of  pur- 
poses. Catus  Firmius  was,  hi  like  manner, 
condemned,  on  a  cliarge  of  Iraving maliciously 
accused  his  sister  on  the  law  of  majesty.  It 
vras  this  man,  as  has  been  related,  who  first 
deceived  the  unsuspecting  Libo  (h),  and  then 
betrayed  him  to  his  ruin.  For  tliat  sacrifice 
of  all  truth  arid  honour,  Tiberius  was  not  un- 
grateful. To  reward  his  services,  yet  pretend- 
ing  to  act  with  othermotives,  he  over-ruled  the 
sentence  of  banishment,  but  agreed  that  he 
should  be  expelled  the  senate. 

XXXII.  The  transactions  hitherto  re- 
lated, and  those  which  are  to  follow,  may,  I 
am  well  aware,  be  thought  of  littleimportance, 
and  beneath  the  dii>inty  of  history.  But  no 
man,  it  is  presumed,  will  think  of  comparing 
these  annals  with  the  historians  of  the  old  re- 
public.    Those  writers  hud  for  their  subject, 


OF    TACITUS.  169 

wars  of  the  greatest  iiiagiiitiule  ;  cities  taken  ^°^^^ 
by  storm;  kings  overtluown,  or  knl  in  eap- J^^Jp^ 
tivity  to  Home  :  and  >vhen  from  tliose  scenes  J'^^ 
of  splendour  they  turned  their  attention  to  ^^ 
domestic  occurrences,  they  had  still  an  ample 
field  before  them ;  they  hud  dissensions  be- 
tween the  consuls  and  the  tribunes  ;  they  had 
agrarian  laws,  the  price  of  corn,  and  the  popu- 
lace and  patrician  order  iniiamed  with  mutual 
animosity.  Those  were  objects  that  filled  the 
imagination  of  the  reader,  and  gave  free  scope 
to  the  genius  of  the  writer.  The  work,  in 
which  I  am  engaged,  lies  in  a  narrow  compass ; 
the  labour  is  great,  and  glory  there  is  none. 
A  Ion"'  and  settled  calm,  scarce  lifted  to  a 
tempest ;  wars  no  sooner  begun  than  ended ; 
a  gloomy  scene  at  home,  and  a  prince  without 
ambition,  or  even  a  wish  to  enlarge  the  bound- 
aries of  the  empire  :  these  are  the  scanty  ma- 
terials that  lie  before  me.  And  yet  materials 
like  these  are  not  to  be  unden'alued  ;  though 
slight  in  appearance,  they  still  merit  attention, 
since  they  are  often  the  secret  spring  of  the 
most  important  events. 

XXXIII.  If  we  consider  the  nature  of 
civil  government,  we  shall  lind,  that,  in  all 


170  THE  ANNALS 

BOOK  nations,  the  supreme  authority  is  vested  either 
in  the  people,  or  the  nobles,  or  a  single  ruler. 
A  constitution  (a)  compounded  of  these  three 
simple  forms,  may  in  theory  be  beautiful,  but 
can  never  exist  in  fact ;  or,  if  it  should,  it  will 
be  but  of  short  duration.  At  Rome,  while 
the  republic  flourished,  and  the  senate  and  the 
people  gained  alternate  victories  over  each 
other,  it  was  the  business  of  the  true  politician, 
to  study  the  manners  and  tempers  of  the  mul- 
titude, in  order  to  restrain  within  due  bounds 
a  tumultuous  and  discordant  mass  ;  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  he  who  best  knew  the  senate, 
and  the  characters  of  the  leading  members, 
was  deemed  the  most  accomplished  statesman 
of  his  time.  At  present,  since  a  violent  convul- 
sion has  overturned  the  old  republic,  and  the 
government  of  Rome  differs  in  nothing  from  a 
monarchy  (b)y  the  objects  of  political  know- 
ledge are  changed,  and,  for  that  reason,  such 
transactions  as  it  is  my  business  to  relate,  will 
not  be  without  their  use.  Few  are  qualilied, 
by  their  own  reflection,  to  mark  the  bounda- 
ries between  vice  and  virtue.  To  separate 
the  useful  from  that  which  leads  to  destruc- 
tion, is  not  the  talent  of  every  man.  The  ex- 
ample of  others  is  the  school  of  wisdom. 


A.D. 

i.'4. 


OF  TACITUS.  171 

It  must  however  be  acknowledged,  that  the    book 
detail  into  which  I  am  obliged  to  enter  is  in  ^^-v^^ 

~  A.  U.  C, 

danger,  while  it  gives  lessons  of  prudence,  of  "■^'• 
being  dry  and  unentertaining.  In  other  his- 
tories, the  situation  of  countries,  the  events  of 
war,  and  the  exploits  of  illustrious  generals, 
awaken  curiositv,  and  enlaroe  the  imaoina- 
tion.  We  have  nothing  before  us,  but  acts  of 
despotism,  continual  accusations,  the  trea- 
chery of  friends,  the  ruin  of  innocence,  and 
trial  after  trial  ending  always  in  the  same  tra- 
gic catastrophe.  These,  no  doubt,  will  give 
to  the  present  work  a  tedious  uniformity,  with- 
out an  object  to  enliven  attention,  without  an 
incident  to  prevent  satiety.  It  may  be  fur- 
ther observed,  that  the  ancient  historian  is 
safe  from  the  severity  of  criticism  :  whether 
he  favours  the  cause  of  Rome  or  of  Carthage, 
the  reader  is  indifferent  to  both  parties  ; 
whereas  the  descendants  of  tiiose  who,  in  the 
reign  of  Tiberius,  were  either  put  to  death,  or 
branded  with  infamy,  are  living  at  this  hour  *, 
and  besides,  if  the  whole  race  were  extinct, 
will  there  not  be  at  all  times  a  succession  of 
men,  who,^  from  congenial  manners,  and  sym- 
pathy in  vice,  will  think  the  tidciity  of  history 
a  satire  on  themselves  ?  Even  the  praise  due 


/ 


172  THi^    ANN-ALS 


BOOK  to  virtue  is  sure  to  give  umbrage.  TliP  illus- 
trious character  is  brouo;ht  too  near  to  the  de- 
■7-     pravitv  of  modern  times.  The  contrast  is  too 
2'^'     strong  for  tender  eyes.     But  I  return  from 
this  difi;res:?ion. 


777. 
A 


••i^. 


A.  u.  c.      XXXIV.  During  the  consulship  of  Cor- 

778. 

AD.  nelius  Cossus  and  Asinius  Agrippa,  a  new, 
and,  till  that  time,  unlieard  of  crime  was  laid 
to  the  charge  of  Cremutius  Cord  us  f^O-  1^^ 
had  published  a  series  of  annals.  In  that 
work,  after  the  encomium  of  Brutus,  hestjded 
Cassius  fbj  the  last  of  Romans.  For  this  sen- 
timent a  prosecution  was  commenced  against 
the  author  bvSatrius  Secundus  andPinarius 
X^atta,  both,  known  to  be  the  creatures  of  Seja- 
)uis.  That  circunibtance  was  of  itselfsufficient ; 
but  the  stern  countenance, with  whichTiberius 
heard  the  defence,  was  a  fatal  prognostic. 
AVith  a  spirit,  however,  prepared  for  the  worst, 
and  even  resolved  on  death,  Cordus  spoke  to 
the  following  effect.  "The  charge,  conscript 
''  f:ithers,  is  for  words  only  ;  so  irreproachable 
"  is  my  conduct.  And  what  are  my  words  ? 
'*'  Do  they  affect  the  emperor  or  Ids  mother, 
"  the  only  persons  included  in  the  law  of  ma- 
•'jesty?     It  is,  liowever,  my  crime,  that  I 


OF  TACITUS.  173 

' '  have  treated  tlie  memory  of  Brutus  and  Gas-    book 
"  siuswith  respect :  and  have  not  others  done 
•'*  the  same  ?  In  the  number  of  v/riters,  Avho 
"  composed  the  lives  of  those  eminent  men, 
*'  is  there  one  who  has  not  done  honour  to 
"  their  memory?     Titus  Livius,  that  admi- 
*'  rable  historian,  not  more  distinguished  by 
*'  his  eloquence  than  by  his  fidelity,  was  so 
"  lavish  in  praise  of  Pompey,  that  Augustus 
*'  called  him    the   Pompeian :    and   yet    the 
*'  friendship  of  tiiat  emperor  was  unalterable. 
*'  Scipio,  and  Afranius,  with  this  sameBru- 
"  tus,  and  this  verv  Cassius,  are  mentioned  by 
**  that  immortal  author,  not  indeed  as  fcj  ruf- 
''  FiANS  and  PARRICIDES   (the  appellations 
'*  now  in  vogue) ;  but  as  virtuous,  upright,  and 
*'  illustrious  Ilomans.  In  the  works  of  Asinius 
*'  Pollio  their  names  are  decorated  with  every 
' '  praise.  Messala  Corvinus boasted  that  Cas- 
*'  si  us  was  his  general.      And  yet  those  tvvO 
"  distiniiuished  writers  flourished  in  the  es~ 
"  teem  of  Augustus  and  enjoyed  both  wealth 
*'  and  honours.      Cicero  dedicated  an  entire 
volume  to  the  memory  of  Cato.  What  was 
"  the  conduct  of  Coesar,    the  dictator?    He 
*'  contented  himself  with  writing  an  answer,  in 


fr< 


174  THE    ANNALS 

**  effect,  appealing  to  the  tribunal  of  the  pub- 
"  lie.  The  letters  of  ]\Taik  Anthony,  as  well 
''  as  the  speeches  of  Brutus,  abound  with  pas-s- 
''  sages  against  Augustus,  false  indeed,  but  in 
''  a  style  of  bitter  invective.  The  verses  of 
''  Bibaculus  and  Catullus,  though  keen  lam-^ 
*'  poons  on  the  family  of  the  Caesars,  are  in 
*'  every  body's  hands.  Neither  Julius  C«sar 

nor  Augustus  shewed  any  resentment  against 
•'  these  envenomed  productions  :  on  the  con- 
trary, they  left  them  to  make  their  way  in  the 
'  world. Was  this  their  moderation,  orsuperior 
'  wisdom^  Perhaps  it  was  the  latter.  Neglect- 
ed calumny  soon  expires  :  shew  that  you  are 
hurt,  and  you  give  it  theappearance  of  truth. 


XXXV.  "  From  Greece  I  draw  no  prece- 
"  dents.  In  that  country  not  only  liberty,  but 
"  even  licentiousness  was  encouraged.  He 
*'  who  felt  the  edge  of  satire,  knew  how  to  re- 
*'  taliate.  Words  were  revenged  by  words. 
*'  When  public  characters  have  passed  away 
"  from  the  stage  of  life,  and  the  applause  of 
"  friendship,  as  well  as  the  malice  of  enemies, 
*'  is  heard  no  more  ;  it  has  ever  been  the  pre*- 
"  rogative  of  history  to  rejudge  their  actions. 


OF  TACITUS.  175 

*'  Brutus  and  Cassius  are  not  now  at  the  bead    book 
**  of  armies  :  they  are  not  encamped  on  the  ^^''J^ 
**  plains  of  Philippi :  can  I  assist  their  cause  ?    ^; J; 
**  Have  I  harangued  the   people,  or  incited      ^ 
"  them  to  take  up  arms?  It  is  now  more  than 
*'  sixty  years  since  these  two  extraordinary 
*'  men  perished  by  the  sword  :  from  that  time, 
*'  they  have  been  seen  in  their  busts  and  sta- 
tues :  those  remains  the  very  conquerors 
spared,  and  historj-  has  been  just  to  their 
memory.      Posterity  allows  to  every  man 
his  true  value  and  his  proper  honours.  You 
may,  if  you  will,  by  your  judgment  affect 
my  life :  but  Brutus  and  Cassius  will  be 
still  remembered,  and  my  name  may  attend 
*'  their  triumph."  Having  thus  delivered  his 
sentiments,  he  left  the  senate,  and  faj  by  abs- 
tinence put  an  end  to  his  days. 

The  fathers  ordered  his  book  to  be  burnt 
by  the  a^diles  ;  but  to  destroy  it  was  not  in 
their  power  fbj.  It  was  preserved  in  secret, 
and  copies  have  been  multiplied  ;  so  vain  and 
senseless  is  the  attempt,  by  an  arbitrary  act,  to 
extinguish  the  light  of  truth,  and  defraud  pos» 
terity  of  due  information.  Genius  thrives 
under  oppression  :  persecute  the  author,  and 


ie 
(  i 

( i 
ii 
H 
(( 


17^  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK  you  enhance  the  value  of  his  work.    Foreisfit 

IV.      -'  ^ 

^^ — >  tyrants,  and  all  who  have  adopted  their  bar- 

^7s^    barous  policy,  have  experienced  this  truth  : 

*5.     by  proscribh\<>;  talents,  they  recorded  their 

own  disgrace,  and  gave  the  writer  a  passport 

to  immortality. 

XXXVI.  The  whole  of  this  year  was  one 
continued  series  of  prosecutions  ;  insomuch 
that  on  one  of  the  days  of  the  Latin  festival 
(cij,  when  Drusns,  in  his  character  of  pra?fect 
of  Rome,  ascended  the  tribunal,  Calpurnius 
Salvianus  took  that  opportunity  to  present  an 
accusation  against  Sextus  Alarius.  A  proceed- 
ing so  irreii'ular  drew  down  the  censure  of  Ti- 
berius.  Salvianus  was  driven  into  banish- 
ment. A  complaint  against  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  Cyzicus  Avas  presented  to  the  se- 
nate, charging,  that  the}^  had  suffered  the  ce- 
remonies in  honour  of  Augustus  to  fall  into 
contempt,  and  had  moreover  offered  violence 
to  several  Roman  citizens.  For  this  offence 
they  were  deprived  of  the  privileges,  Avhicli 
had  been  granted  to  them  for  their  fidelity  in 
the  war  with  IMithridates.  That  monarch 
laid  siege  to  their  city  ;  but,  by  the  fortitude 
of  the  people,  not  less  than  by  the  succour 


OF    TACITUS.  177 

sent  by  LucuUus,  he  was  oblked  to  abandon    book 
the  place.     Fonteiiis  Capito,  who  had  been  v.^-^-^-* 
proconsul  of  Asia,  was  acquitted  of  the  charge    JJ^j^ 
alleged  against  him  by  themahce  of  that  dar-      ^5. 
ing  accuser,    Vibius   Serenus  (bj.     And  yet 
the  author  of  so  vile  a  calumny  passed  with 
impunity,    lie  had  the  curses  of  the  people, 
and  the  protection  of  the  emperor.  Informers, 
in    proportion  as  they  rose  in  guilt,  became 
sacred  characters*     If  any  were  punished,  it 
was  only  such  as  were  mere  novices  in  guilt, 
obscui^  and  petty  villains,  who  had  no  talents 
for  mischief. 

XXXVII.  Ambassadors,  about  this  time, 
arrived  from  the  further  Spain,  praying  leave, 
in  imitation  of  the  people  of  Asia,  to  build  a 
temple  to  the  emperor  and  his  mother.  Ti- 
berius had  strength  of  mind  to  despise  the  of- 
fering's of  adulation:  he  knew*,  hovrever,  that 
his  conduct  on  a  former  occasion  had  been 
taxed  with  the  littleness  of  vain  glory.  To 
clear  himself  from  that  aspersion,  he  made 
the  following  speech.  "  I  am  not,  conscript 
"  tathers,  now  to  learn  that,  when  a  similar 
*'  petition  came  from  Asia,  I  was  accused  of 
*'  weakness  and  irresolution,  for  not  giving  a 

VOL.    II.  N 


J7B 


THE    ANNALS 


EOOK 

IV. 


'  (icciclcd  negative.  The  silence  wliicU  I 
'  then  (jbseived,  and  the  law  which  I  have 
'  laid  doM'n  to  myself  for  the  future,  it  is  my 
'  intention  now  to  explain.  Augustus,  it  is 
'  well  known,  permitted  a  temple  to  be  rais- 
^  ed  at  Pergamus,  in  honour  of  himself  and 
'  the  city  of  Rome.  His  example  has  ever 
'  been  the  rule  of  my  conduct.  I  yielded  to 
'  the  solicitations  of  Asia  the  more  willingly, 
'  as  v,'ith   the  veneration  oftered  to   myself, 

•  that  of  the  senate  was  mixed  and  blended. 
'  That  single  act   of  compliance  may,  per- 

•  haps,  require  no  apology :  but  to  be  dei- 
'  fied  throughout  the  provinces,  and  intrude 
'  my  own  image  among  the  statues  of  the 
'  Gods,  what  vrere  it  but  vain  presumption, 
'  the  height  of  human  arrogance  ?  Erect 
'  more  altars,  and  the  homage  paid  to  Au- 
'  "ustus  will  be  no  longer  an  honour  to  his 
'  memory  ;  by  promiscuous  use,  it  will  tar- 

•  nish  in  the  eyes  of  mankind,  and  vanish 
'  into  nothinij;. 


XXXVIII.  ''As  to  myseli^  conscript  f»- 
*'  thers,  I  ])retend  to  nothing  above  the  con- 
''  dition  of  humanity  :  a  mortal  man,  I  liave 
*'  the  duties  of  our  connnon  nature'  to  per- 
*'  form.  liaised  to  a  painful  pre-eminence,  if 


A.D 

25. 


OF    TACITUS.  179 

'^  I  sustain  the  arduous  character  imposed    ^^^P^ 

''  upon  me,  the  measure  of  my  happiness  is  "^^"^^ 

"full.     These    are  my  sentiments ;   I  avow     '"*^' 

''  them  in  your  presence,  and  I  hope  they  will 

"reach  posterity.     Should  future  ages  pro- 

"  ]iounce  me  not  unworthy  of  my  ancestors  ; 

"  should  they  think  me  vigilant  for  the  public 

"  good,  in  danger  firm,  and,  for  the  interest 

"  of  all,  ready  to  encounter  personal  animo- 

"  sities,  that  character  will  be  the  bright  re- 

"  ward   of  all  my  labours.     Those  are  the 

"  temples  which  I  v/ish  to  raise  :  they  are  the 

"  truest  temples,  for  they  are  fixed  in  the 

"  heart.     It  is  there  I  would  be  worshipped, 

"  in  the   esteem  and  the  affections  of  men, 

"  that  best  and  most  lastino-  monument.  Piles 

"  of  stone  and  marble  structures,  when  the 

"  idol  ceases  to  be  adored,  and  the  jads>'ment 

"  of  posterity  rises  to  execration,  are  mere 

"  charnel  houses,  that  moulder  into  ruin. 

"  I  therefore  now  address  myself  to  theal- 
"  lies  of  the  empire,  to  the  citizens  of  Rome, 
"  and  to  the  immortal  o'ods,  to  the  gods  it  is 
"  my  prayer,  that  to  the  end  of  life  they 
"  may  grant  tlie  blessing  of  an  undisturbed, 
"  a  clear,  a  collected  mind,  with  a  just  sense 

N  2 


180  THE   A>rNALS 

''  of  laAvs  bath  human  and  divine.     Of  man- 
''  kind  I  request,  that,  when  I  am   no  more, 
"  they  will  do  justiee  to   my  memory  ;  and, 
"  with   kind    acknowledgments,  record   my 
"^  name,,  and   the   actions  of  my   life."     In 
these  sentiments    he    persisted  ever    after. 
Even  in  private  conversation  he  never  ceased 
to  declaim  against   the   abuses   of  reli<>;ious 
lionours.     For  this   self-denial  various  mo- 
tives were  assigned.  Some  called  it  modesty  ; 
others,  a  sense  of.  his  own   demerit ;  many 
imputed  it  to  a  degenerate  spirit,  ijisensible 
to  all  fair  and  honourable  distinctions.     The 
love  of  glory,   they  observed,  has  ever  been 
the   incentive  of  exalted  minds.     It  was  by 
this  principle  that  Hercules  and  Bacchus  en- 
rolled themselves  anion";  the  i^ods  of  Greece  ; 
and   it  was  thus  that  Romulus  ^\as  deified 
at  llon).ei     Augustus  made  a  riirht  estimate 
of  things,    and^   by  consequence,  aspired    to 
rank   himself  with  ancient  wortliies.     With 
regard  to    other  gratifications,  princes  are  in 
a  station,  where  to  desire,  is   to  have.     But 
the  passion  i\)r  glory  ought  to  be  :n^Atiable^ 
The  esteem  of  posterity  it  the  true  ambitiun 
of  a  prince.   From  the  contempt  oi  lame  fa  J 
arises  a  contempt  of  virtue. 


OF    TACITUS. 


181 


XXXIX.  Sejanus,  intoxicated  with  sac-    book 
cess,   and  luij-iied   on  b}^  the  iniportiuiity  of 
the  younger  I.ivia  fa  J,   who  was  grown  im- 
patient for  the  promised  marriage,    thouglit 
lit  to  open  the  business  to  the  emperor.     All 
apphcati(^ns,  at  tliat  time,  even  ^\  hen  a  per- 
sonal  interview   trKjk  place,  were  presented 
to  the  prince  in  writing f/vj.     The  purport  of 
the  memorial  was,  that  "  the  munificence  of 
"  Augustus  to  th.e  petitioner,  und  the  favours 
*'  added    I))'  Tiberius,   had   ^o  engrossed  all 
*'  his  faculties,   lliat  he  was  now  accustomed, 
"  instead   of  suppUcatirjg   the  gods,  to  offer 
*'  up   his   prayers   to   the   prince.     Of  rank 
"  and  splendour  he  had  never  been  ambitious  : 
"  a  post  of  difiiculty,  where  he  watched  day 
*'  and  night  like  a  common  sentinel,  to  guard 
*'  the  life  of  his  sovereign,  was  the  only  ho- 
"  nour  he  liad  ever  sought.  And  yet  a  mark 
"  of  the  hiirhest  distijiction  had  been    con- 
"  ferred   upon  him.     The  emperor  deemed 
"  him  worthy  of  an  alliance  with  the  impe- 
"  rial   house  CfJ.      Ills  present  hopes   were 
*'  built  on  that  foundatioji.     Having  heard 
*'  that  Augustus  {dj,  when   tlje  marriage  of 
"  his  daughter  v.as  in  cotitemplation,  doubt- 
*'  ed,  for  some  time,  whether  he  should  not 
*'  give  her  t<->  a  Roman  knight ;  he  presumed 


182 


THE    ANNALS 


to  offer  his  humble  request,  that  Tiberius, 
if  a  new  match  was  designed  for  Livia, 
would  graciously  think  of  a  friend,  who 
would  bear  in  mind  a  due  sense  of  the 
favour  conferred  upon  him,  but  never 
claim  an  exemption  from  the  toil  and, duty 
of  his  post.  To  shelter  his  family  from  the 
animosity  of  Agrippina  was  the  object  he 
had  in  view.  He  felt  for  his  children  ;  but 
as  to  himself,  if  he  died  in  the  service  of 
his  prince,  he  should  die  content  and  full 
of  years." 


XL.  Tiberius  expressed  himself  pleased 
with  the  style  of  affection  which  breathed 
through  the  memorial.  He  mentioned,  in  a 
cursory  manner,  the  favours  he  had  granted, 
but  desired  time  for  the  consideration  of  a  sub- 
ject so  entireljMiew  and  unexpected.  Having 
w^eiiihed  the  business,  he  returned  tlicfolloAV- 
ng  answer:  *'  In  all  matters  of  deliberation, 
'  self-interest  is  the  principle  by  which  indi- 

*  viduals  decide  for  themselves  :  with  princes 

*  it  is  otherwise.     The  opinions  of  the  pco- 

*  pie  claim  their  attention,  and  public  fame 
'  must  direct  their  conduct.  To  the  request 
^  which  had  been  made,  an  obvious  answer 
'  presented  itself  to  his  pen :  he  might  ob- 


THE    ANNALS  183 

"  serve,   that  it  was  for  Livia  to  determine,    book 

IV. 

"  whether  she  would  contract  another  mar-  ^^^ — ' 

A.  u.  c. 

"  riao'e,  or  be  content  to  remain  the  widow  -^^ 
''  of  Dnisiis.  He  mi^lit  add,  that  she  had  ^- 
"  a  mother  fa  J  and  a  grandmother,  more 
'^  nearly  connected  than  himself,  and,  for  that 
"  reason,  fitter  to  be  consulted.  But  he 
"'  would  deal  openl}-,  and  in  terms  of  plain 
"  simplicity.  And  fn-^t,  as  to  Agrippina; 
'-  her  resentments  would  break  out  Avith 
''  redoubled  violence,  if,  by  the  marriage  of 
"  liivia,  she  saw  the  imperial  tamily  divided 
"  into  contending  tactions.  Ev^en  at  present, 
''  female  jealousies  made  a  scene  of  tumult  and 
'*  distraction.  Plis  grandsons  were  involved 
"  in  their  disputes.  Should  the  marriage  be 
"  allowed,  perpetual  discord  might  be  the 
"  consequence. 

"  Do  you  imagine,  Sejanus,  that  Livia,  the 
''  widow  first  of  Caius  Caesar,  and  since  of 
"  Drusus,  will  act  an  humble  part,  and  waste 
"  her  life  in  the  embraces  of  a  Roman  knight  ? 
''  Should  I  consent,  what  will  be  said  by 
'*  those  who  saw  her  fatlii-r,  her  l)rother, 
''  and  the  ancestors  of  our  family,  invested 
"  with  the  highest  honours  of  the  state  !  But 
*'  it   seems  vou  will    not  asi)ire  above  your 


184 


THE    ANNA-LS 


BOOK 
IV. 

A.  U.   C. 

778. 

A.D. 

25. 


present  station.  Remember  that  the  ma-^ 
gistrates,  and  the  first  men  in  Rome,  who 
besiege  your  levee,  and  in  every  thing  defer 
to  yourjudgment;  remember,  I  say ,  thatthey 
now  proclaim  aloud,  that  you  have  already 
soared  above  the  equestrian  rank,  and  enjoy 
higher  authority  than  was  ever  exercised  by 
the  favourites  of  my  father.  They  declaim 
against  you  with  envy,  and  they  obliquely 
glance  at  me.  But  Augustus,  you  say, 
had  thoughts  of  givino-  jiis  daugter  to  one 
of  the  equestrian  order.  And  if,  overwhelm- 
ed by  a  weight  of  cares,  yet  sensible  at  the 
same  time  of  the  honour  that  would  accrue 
to  the  favoured  bridegroom,  he  mentioned 
occasionally  Caius  Proculeius  (hj,  and 
some  others,  is  it  not  well  known  that  they 
were  all  of  moderate  principles  ;  men  who 
led  a  life  of  tranquillity,  and  took  no  })art 
in  the  transactions  of  the  state  ?  And 
if  Augustus  had  his  doubts,  is  it  for 
me  to  take  a  decided  part }  His  final  de- 
termination is  the  true  precedent.  He 
gave  his  daughter  first  to  Agrippa,  aiuj 
afterwards  to  myself.  These  are  the  reflec- 
tions which  I  thought  proper  to  communi- 
cate to  you.  jNIy  friendship  is  M'ithout 
disguise.    To  tl\e  measures  which  you  and 


OF    TACITUS. 


185 


25. 


'  Livia  may  have  concerted,  no  obstacle  shall    book 

'  arise  from   rae.     But  stiil   there  are  other  '^['^J^S 

'  ties  by  v/hicli  I  ■would  bind  you  to  myself    ]J%^ 

'  fcj  in  closer  union.     I  will  not  at  present 

'  enlarge  on  the  subject.     I  shall  only  say, 

'  that  I  know  no  honour  to  v/hich  you  are 

'  not  entitled    by  your   virtues,   and    your 

'  zeal  for  my  interest.  But  v/hat  I  think  and 

'  feel  on  this  head  I  sliall  take  occasion  to 

*  explani  to  the  senate,  or,  it  may  be,  in  a 

'  full  assembly  of  the  people." 

XLI.  Ala  mi  ED  by  this  answer,  Sejanus 
dropped  all  thoughts  of  tlie  marriage.  A 
crowd  of  apprehensions  rushed  upon  liim. 
He  feared  the  penetrating  eye  of  malicious 
enemies  ;  he  dreaded  the  whispers  of  suspi- 
cion, and  the  clamours  of  the  public.  To  pre- 
vent impressions  to  his  disadvantage,  he  pre- 
sented a  second  memorial,  humbly  requesting 
that  the  emperor  would  pay  no  regard  to 
the  su"'i>:estions  of  ill  desio;nin^  men.  Be- 
tween  two  nice  and  difficult  points  the  tavou- 
rite  was  now  much  embarrassed.  If,  for  the 
sake  of  a  more  humble  appearance,  he  deter- 
mined to  avoid  for  the  future  the  great  con- 
flux of  visitors,  v/lio  frequented  his  house,  his 


186  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  power,  in  a  short  time,  would  be  in  its  wane  ; 
and  on  the  other  hand,  by  receiving  snch  a 
numerous  train,  he  gave  access  to  spies  upon 
his  conduct.  A  new  expedient  occurred  to 
him.  He  resolved  to  persuade  the  emperor 
to  withdraw  from  thv  city,  and  lead,  in  some 
deUghtful,  but  remote,  situation,  a  Vii'c  of  ease 
and  sohtary  pleasure.  In  this  measure  he 
saw  many  advantages.  Access  to  the  prince 
would  depend  on  the  minister;  all  letters 
conveyed  by  the  soldiers  would  iall  into  his 
hands  :  and  Tiberius,  now  in  the  vale  ofyears, 
ini^ht  be,  when  charmi^d  vrith  his  retreat, 
and  lulled  to  repose  and  indolence,  more  easily 
induced  to  resign  the  reins  of  government. 
In  that  retirement  the  favourite  would  disen- 
o'ao;e  liimsclf  from  the  vain  parade  of  crowded 
levees  ;  envy  would  be  appeased  ;  and  in- 
stead of  the  shadow  of  power,  he  might  grasp 
the  substance.  To  this  end,  Sejanus  affect- 
ed to  disrelish  the  noise  and  bustle  of  the 
city  ;  the  people  assend)ling  in  crowds  gave 
him  disgust ;  and  the  courtiers,  who  buzz- 
ed in  the  place,  brought  nothing  but  fatigue 
and  vain  parade.  He  talked  of  the  pleasure 
of  rural  solitude,  where  there  was  nothing  but 
pure  enjoyment,  no  little  anxieties,  no  te- 
1 


OF  TACITUS.  187 


dioiis  languor,  no  intrio'ues  of  iactioii ;  a  scene    book 

.  ,      ^^• 

of  tranquillity,   where    inu^ortant  plans    of  ----v-w^ 
^  •  ^        .         ^  A.  u.  c, 

policy  mi2;ht  be  concerted  at  leisure.  77s. 

ir  J  Q  An 


A.  D. 

25. 


XLII.  It  liappened  in  thisjuncturc  tliat 
the  trial  of  Votienus  Tllontanu.s  faj,  a  man 
famous  for  his  wit  and  talents,  was  i3rouglit  to 
a  hearin"-.  In  the  course  of  his  business,  Ti- 
berius,  with  a  mind  already  balancing,  came 
to  a  resolusion  to  avoid,  for  the  future,  the 
assembly  of  the  fathers,  where  he  was  so  often 
mortified  by  ii;rating expressions.  i\Iontanus 
Avas  accused  of  words  injurious  to  the  empe- 
ror ;  ^miiius,  a  man  iii  tlie  military  line,  was 
a  witness  against  him.  To  establish  the 
charge,  this  man  went  into  a  minute  detail, 
from  little  circumstances  hoping  to  deduce  a 
full  conviction.  Though  ill  heard  by  the 
fathers,  he  persistc*i.l,  in  spite  of  noise  and  fre- 
quent interruption,  to  relate  every  circum- 
stance. Tiberius  heard  the  sarcastic  lan<rua<>'e 
with  wliich  his  character  was  torn  and  mans^led 
in  private.  He  rose  in  a  sudden  transport 
of  passion,  declaring,  in  a  premptory  tone, 
that  he  would  refute  the  calumny  in  that 
stage  of  the  bu^isiess,  or  institute  a  judicial 
proceeding  for  the  purpose.  The  entreaties 
Qf  his   fiieads,  seconded  ])y  the  adulation  of 


138  TlfE   ANNA  us 

BOOK  the  fathers  were  scarce  suffiA'^ient  to  appease 
hisaiiii'er.  The  iud^meut  usual  in  cases  of  vio- 
lated  majesty  v/as  pronounced  against  Mon- 
tanusf^J.  AVant  of  clemency  was  the  s^eneral 
objection  to  Tiberius  ;  but  the  reproach,  in- 
stead of  mitigating,  served  only  to  enfiame 
that  vindictive  temper,  With  a  spirit  exas- 
perated, he  took  up  the  affair  of  Aquilia,  con- 
victed of  adulter}' with  Varius  Ligur ;  and 
though  Lentulu.s  Ga^tulicus,  consul  elect,  was 
of  opinion  that  the  penalties  fcj  of  the  Ju- 
lian law  would  be  an  adccpuite  punishment, 
she  was  ordered  into  exile.  Apidius  I\Ierula 
had  refused  to  swear  on  the  acts  of  Augustus. 
For  that  offence  Tiberius  razed  his  nanje 
from  the  register  of  the  senators  (dj. 

XLIII.  The  dispute  then  depending  be- 
tween the  Lacedaemonians  and  the  people  of 
!Messena,  concerning  the  temple  of  the  Lim- 
iiatidian  Diana  fa  J,  was  brought  to  a  hearing 
before  the  senate.  Deputies  were  heard  from 
both  places.  On  the  part  of  the  Laceda^mq- 
nians  itwas  contended,  that  the  structure  in 
question  was  built  by  their  ancestors,  witliin 
the  territory  of  Sparta.  For  proof  of  the  tact, 
they  cited  extracts  from  history,  and  passages 
of  ancient  poetr3^  In  the  >\ar  with  Philip  of 


A.  D^ 
:>5, 


Oi'    TACITUJ5.  189 

INIacedaii,   they  were  deprived  of  their  right    book 
])V  force  of  arms  ;   hut  the  same  was  restored  ^^ — ' 

A.  U.  C. 

hv  Juhus  Cirsar  and  jMark  Anthony.     The     J"^^ 

t,  *  All 

]Messenians,  on  the  otlier  hand,  produced 
an  ancient  chart  of  Pek)ponnesus,  divided 
among  the  descendants  of  Hercules  ;  by 
which  it  appeared,  that  tlie  Denthehate  tield, 
M  liere  the  temple  stood,  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
king  of  ]\Iessena.  Inscriptions,  verifyino;  the 
fact,  were  still  to  be  seen  in  stone  and  tables 
of  brass.  If  fragments  of  [)oetry  and  loose 
scraps  of  history  were  to  be  admitted,  they 
had,  in  that  kind,  a  fund  of  evidence  more 
ample,  and  directly  in  point.  It  was  not  by  an 
act  of  violence  that  Philip  of  Macedon  trans- 
ferred the  possesion  from  Sparta  to  the  ]Mes- 
senians  ;  his  justice  dictated  that  decision. 
Since  that  time,  several  judgments,  all  con- 
spiring to  the  same  effect,  were  pronounced 
by  king  Antii!;unus  f/^J,  by  jMummius  fcj, 
the  lioman  general,  by  the  Milesians,  in 
their  ca  acity  of  public  arbitrators,  and 
fmally  by  Atidius  Gcminus,  then  praztor 
of  Achala  fdj.  The  Messenians  carriea  their 
pomt. 

The  citizens  of  Segestum  fej  presented  a 
petition,  stating,  that  the  Tempie  oi  Venus, 


190  THE    ANNALS 

Oil  iiiOLint  Erix,  had  mouldered  away,  and 
therefore  praying  leave  ta  build  a  new  edilice 
on  the  same  spot.  Their  account  of  the  first 
foundation  was  so  highly  flattering  to  the 
pride  of  Tiberius,  that,  considering  himself 
as  a  person  related  to  the  goddess,  he  under- 
took the  care  and  expence  of  the  building. 

A  petition  from  the  city  of  ^larseilles  came 
next  into  debate.  The  fact  was  shortly  this  : 
Vulcatius  jMoschus,  banished  by  the  laws  of 
Home,   and   admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the 
city  of  3»IarseiHes,  bequeathed  to  that  repub- 
lic, w  hicli  he  considered  as  his  native  country, 
the  whole  of  his  property.     To  justify  this 
proceeding,  the  ]Marseillians  cited  the  case  of 
Publius  llutilius  (^/]j,  an  exile   from  Rome, 
and  afterwards  naturalized  by  the  people  of 
Smyrna.  The  authority  of  the  precedent  was 
admitted,   and  the  fathers  pronounced  in  fa- 
vour of  the  will. 

XLIV.  In  the  course  of  the  year  died 
Cneis  Lentulus  (aj  and  Lucius  Domitius, 
two  citizens  of  distinimished  emhiencc.    The 

o 

consular  dignity,  and  the  honour  of  triumphal 
ornaments,  for  a  com[;lete  victory  o\'er  the 
GctiUians,  gave  lustre  to  the  name  of  Lentu- 


IV. 

A.  U.  C. 

77  S, 
A.D. 

-25. 


OF    TACITUS.  191 

las  :  but  thv  trvie  glorv  of  his  character  arose  book 
from  tlie  dignity  vith  which  he  supported 
liimself,  first  in  luodest  povcrt}',  and  after- 
wards in  the  possession  of  a  splendid  fortune, 
acquired  with  integrity,  and  enjoyed  with 
moderation.  Domitius  f/ij  owed  mucli  of  his 
consecjuence  to  his  ancestors.  His  father, 
diirinii  the  civil  wars,  remained  master  of  the 
seas  till  he  v/ent  over  to  ?\Iark  Anthony, 
and,  soon  after  deserting  his  party,  followed 
the  fortunes  of  Augustus.  His  <>"randfather 
fell  in  the  battle  of  Pharsalia,  lighting  for  the 
senate.  Domitius,  thus  descended,  was  deem- 
ed, worthv  of  the  younger  Antonia,  the  dauirh- 
ter  of  ]\Iark  Anthony,  by  his  wife  Octavia. 
lie  led  the  Iloman  legions  beyond  the  Elbe 
fcj,  and  penetrated  further  into  Germany 
than  any  foi'mer  connnander.  His  services 
were  rewarded  with  triunipiial  ornamentti. 

Lucius  Antonius  (dy,  vA\o  likewise  died 
this  year,  must  not  be  omitted.  He  was  de- 
,  scended  from  a  line  of  auccbtors,  highlv  ho- 
noured,  but  unfortunate.  11  rs  father,  Julius 
Antonius,  being  put  to  d-.-ath  for  his  adul- 
terous commerce  with  Julia,  the  son,  at 
that  time  of  tender  }ears,  and  grand  nephew 


192  THE    ANN^iLS 

BOOK  to  Augustus,  was  sent  out  of  the  way  to 
the  City  of  Marseilles,  where,  under  the 
pretence  of  pu issuing  his  studies,  he  was 
detained  in  actual  banishment.  Funeral 
honours  were  paid  to  his  memory,  and  his 
remains,  by  a  decree  of  the  senate,  were 
deposited  in  the  monument  of  the  Octavian 
family, 

XLV.  While  the  same  consuls  con- 
tinued in  oflice,  a  deed  of  an  atrocious  na- 
ture was  committed  in  the  nethermost  Spain 
faj  by  a  peasant  from  the  district  of  Ter- 
mes.  Lucius  Piso,  the  praetor  of  the  pro- 
vince, in  a  period  of  profoimd  peace,  was 
travellino;  throudi  the  countrv,  unguarded, 
and  without  precaution,  when  a  desperate 
ruffian  attacked  him  on  tlie  road,  and,  at 
one  blow,  laid  him  dead  on  the  spot. 
Trustinor  to  the  swiftness  of  his  horse,  the 
assassin  made  towards  the  forest,  and,  there 
dismounting,  pursued  his  way  on  foot  over 
devious  wilds  and  craggy  steeps,  eluding  the 
vigilance  and  activity  of  the  Romans.  He  did 
not,  how^ever,  remain  long  concealed.  His 
horse  was  found  in  the  woods,  and  being  led 
through  the  neighbouring  villages,  the  name 


CF    TACITUS.  193 

of  tlie  ov,'ner  was  soon  discovered.  The  vil-  ^op^: 
lain  ofcourse  was  apprehended.  On  the  rack,  ^^"u^^ 
and  under  the  most  excruciating  torture,  he  X'.i). 
refused  to  discover  liis  accompUces.  AVith  a 
tone  of  firmness,  and  in  his  own  lansfuasje, 
"  Your  questions,"  he  said,  "are  all  in  vain, 
*'  Let  my  associates  come;  let  them  behold 
"  my  suiferings  and  my  constancy  ;  not  all 
"  the  pangs  you  can  inflict,  shall  Vv're-st  the 
"  secret  from  me/'  On  the  following  daj^,  as 
they  were  again  dragging  him  to  the  rack,  he 
broke,  vrith  a  sudden  exertion,  from  the  hands 
of  the  executioner,  and  dashiiig  with  violence 
against  a  stone,  fell  and  expired.  The  murder 
of  Piso  was  not  thought  to  be  the  single  crime 
of  this  bold  assassin:  the  inhabitants  of  Ter- 
mes,  it  was  generally  believed,  entered  into  a 
conspiracy  to  cut  off  a  man,  Vviio  claimed  re- . 
stitution  of  the  public  money,  which  had  been 
rescued  from  the  collectors.  Piso  urged  his 
demand  Avith  more  rigour  than  suited  the 
stubborn  genius  of  a  savage  people. 


XLVI.  Lentulus  G^tulicus  and  Caius  a.v  c 
Calvisius  succeeded  to  the  consulship.  Durirjg    ad, 

no, 

their  administration,    triumphal   ornaments 
were  decreed  to  Poppa^'us  Sabinus,  for  his  vic-^ 

VOL.    II,  o 


194  "fHE    ANNALS 

BOOK    torv  over  the  people  of  Thrace  ;  a  clan  of  frec- 

IV  " 

hooters,  who  led  a  savage  life  on  hills  and  rug- 
ged clifts,  without  laws,  or  any  notion  of  civil 
policy.  Rushing  down  from  their  mountains, 
they  waged  a  desultory  war  with  wild  ferocity. 
Their  motives  to  a  revolt   were  strono-  and 
powerful.  They  sav/  the  flower  of  their  youth 
carried  off  to  recruit  the  Roman  armies,  and 
of  course  their  numbers  much  reduced.  Alen, 
who  measured  their  obedience,  even  to  their 
own  kings,  by  the  mere  caprice  of  Barbarians, 
were  not  wilhn^  to  submit  to  the  Roman  voke. 
On  former  occasions,  when  they  Avere  W' illing 
to  act  as  auxiliaries,  they  gave  the  command 
of  their  forces  to  chiefs  of'  their  own  nation, 
under  an  express  condition,  that  the}'  should 
serve  aojainst  the  neighbouring  states  onlv,  aiid 
}iot  be  obliged  to  light  the  battles  of  Rome  iii 
distant  regions.     In  the  present  juncture  an 
idea  prevailed  amongst  them,  that  they  were 
to  be  extermiirated  from  their  native  soil,  and 
mixed  with  other  troops  in  foreign  nations. 

Before  they  had  recourse  to  arms,  they  sent 
adeputationtoSabinus,  stating  "  their  former 
*'  friendship,  and  the  passive  disposition  with 
*'  which  they  had  heretofore  submitted  to  the 


OF    TAClTUSo  195 


IV. 


^' iloman  ocnerals.  They  were  willing' to  con-  book 
*'  tiniie  in  the  same  sentiments,  provided  no 
*'  new  grievance  gave  them  cause  of  com- 
plaint. But  if  the  intention  was  to  treat 
them  as  a  vanquished  people  ;  if  the  yoke 
*'  of  slavery  was  prepared  ibr  their  necks,  they 
*'  abounded  with  men  and  steel,  and  they  had 
*'  hearts  devoted  to  liberty  or  death/'  Their 
ambassadors,  after  thus  declaring  themselves, 
pointed  to  their  castles  on  the  ridge  of  hills 
and  rocks,  where  they  had  collected  their' 
families,  their  parents,  and  their  wives.  If  the 
sword  must  be  drawn,  they  threatened  a  cam- 
paign big  with  danger,  in  its  nature  difficult, 
fierce,  and  bloody. 

XL  VI  I.  S  AB I NU  s,  wish  i  nor  to  aain  sufficient 
time  for  the  assembling  of  his  army,  amused 
them  with  "entle  answers.  Meanwhile,  Pom-^ 
ponius  Labeo,  with  a  legion  from  Ma'sia,and 
Rha?metalces5who  reigned  over  partof  Thrace, 
came  up  with  a  body  of  his  subjects,  who  still 
retained  their  fidelity,  and  formed  a  Junction? 
against  the  rebels.  Sabinus,  thus  reinforced, 
went  in  quest  of  the  enemy.  The  Barbarians 
had  taken  post  in  the  woods  and  narrow  de- 
files.    The  bold  and  warlike  shewed  them-^ 

o  2 


196  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  selves  in  force  on  the  declivity  af  the  hills. 
The  Eoniaii  i>;eiieral  advanced  in  regular  order 
of  battle.  The  mountaineers  were  put  to 
flight,,  but  with  inconsiderable  loss.  The  na- 
ture of  the  place  favoured  tlieir  retreat.  Sa- 
binus  encamped  on  the  spot  deserted  by  the 
enemy,  and,  having  raised  entrenchments, 
marched  with  a  strong  detaclnnent  to  an  ad- 
jacent lull,  narrow  at  the  top,  but,  by  a  level 
and  continued  rid2;e,  extending  to  a  strong 
hold  where  the  Barbarians  had  collected  a 
prodigious  uitdtitude,  .  some  provided  with 
arms,  but  the  gieater  part  no  better  than  an 
undisciplined  rabble , 

The  bravest  of  the  malcontents  appeared 
on  the  outside  of  tlieir  lines,  according  to  the 
custom  of  Barbarians,  dancing  in  wild  dis-^ 
tortion,  and  howlincj  savage  son^s.  The  Ro- 
man  archers  advanced  to  attack  them.  Thev 
poured  in  a  volley  of  darts,  and  wounded 
numbers  witli  impunity,  till, having  approach- 
ed too  near,  the  besieged  nuide  a  sally  from 
the  castle,  and  threw  the  Romans  into  dis- 
order. An  auxiliary  cohort,  which  had  been 
posted  to  advantage,  came  up  to  support  the 
brokeii  ranks.  This  body  of  reserve  consisted 


OF    TACITUS.  197 

of  the  Slc^mhv'musC^J,  a  wild  ferocious  peo-    book 
pie,  who,  hke  the  Ttiraciaiis,  rushed  to  battle  "-O^ 
with  the  iiiini>led  uijroar  of  a  savai:^e   war-     J^; 

^  I  O  A.  D. 

hoop,  and  the  hideous  clangor  of  their  ai'ins.      "^' 


XLVIII.  Sab  IN  us  pitched  a  ncAv  camp 
near  the  fortifications  of  tiie  castle.  In  the 
former  entrenchments  he  left  the  Thracians, 
who  had  joined  tlie  army  under  the  com- 
mand of  Rlurmetalces,  with  orders  to  ravage 
the  country,  and,  as  long  as  day-liglit  lasted,  to 
plunder,  burn.,  and  destrov ;  but,  durin-"-  the 
night,  to  remain  within  their  lines,  taking  care 
to  station  outposts  and  sentinels,  to  prevent  a 
surprise.  Tliese  directions  were  at  tlrst  duly 
observed;  but  a  relaxation  of  discipline  soon 
took  place.  Knriched  with  booty,  the  men 
gave  themselves  up  to  riot  and  dissipation  ;  no 
sentinels  lixed,  and  no  guard  appointed,  the 
time  was  spent  in  carousals,  and  their  whole 
camp  hi}'  buried  in  sleep  and  wine.  Idie 
mountaineers,  lun'ino-  i>oud  intelligence  from 
their  scouts,  formed  two  separate  divisions  ; 
one  to  fall  on  the  roviuii*  freebooters,  and  the 
other,  in  the  same  moment,  to  storm  the  llo- 
iiians  in  their  entrenchments ;  not,  indeed, with 
liopes  of  carrying  the  ^vorks.   I^ut  chieMy  to 


19^  *HE    ANNAtS 

BOOK  spread  a  doiibie  alarm,  and  cause  a  scene  of 
wild  confusion,  in  which  the  men,  amidst  a 
volley  of  darts,  would  be  intent  on  their  own 
immediate  danger,  and  none  would  listen  to 
the  uproar  of  another  battle.  To  augment 
the  terror,  both  assaults  beo;an  in  the  niu'lit. 
No  impression  was  made  on  the  legions  :  but 
the  Thracian  auxiliaries,  stretched  at  ease  in 
their  entrenchments,  or  idly  wandering  about 
on  the  outside  of  the  lines,  were  taken  by  sur- 
prise, and  put  to  the  sword  without  mercy. 
The  slaughter  raged  with  greater  fury,  as  the 
mountaineers  thought  they  were  executing  an 
act  of  venoeance  on  Derfidious  men,  -who  de- 
serted  the  common  cause,  and  fou<>ht  to  en- 
slave  themselves  and  their  country. 

XLIX.  On  the  following'  day  Sabinus  drew 
up  iiismen  on  the  open  plain,  expecting  tiiat 
the  events  of  the  preceding  nigh  t  v/ould  encou- 
raii;e  the  Barbarians  to  hazard  a  battle.  Seeing 
that  nothingcould  draw  them  fromtlH'ii'works, 
or  their  fastnesses  on  the  hills,  he  began  a  re- 
gular siege.  A  numl)er  of  forts  were  thrown 
up,  with  ail  c;xpedition,  and  a  fosse,  with  lines 
of  circumvallation,  inclosed  a  space  of  four 
i:!iiles  round.  To  cut  olT  all  supplies  of  water 


OF    TACITUS. 


199 


and  provisions,  lie  advanced  by  degrees,  and,    ^^^^^ 
raisino-  new  works,  formed  a  close  blockade  on  ^'^aj.  c. 
every  side.    From  a  hiij;h  rampart  the  Romans     a.  p. 
were  able  to  discharge  a  volley  of  stones,  and 
darts,    and  firebrands.     Tliirst  was  the  chief 
distress  of  the  mountaineers.    A  single  fonn- 
tain  was  their  only  resource.    The  men  who 
bore  arms,  and  an  infinite  multitude  incapa« 
ble  of  service,   were  involved  in  one  general 
calamity.   The  distress  was  slid  increased  by 
the  famine  tliat  ra^ed  amoiu;  the  horses  and 
cattle,  which,  without  any  kind  of  distinction, 
according  to  the  custom  of  Barbarians,  laj^  irt- 
termixed  with  the  men.     In  one  promiscuous 
heap  w^ere  to  be  seen  the  carcases  of  animals, 
and  the  bodies  of  soldiers  who  perished  by  the 
sword,  or  the  anguish  of  thirst.  Clotted  gore, 
and  stench,  and  contagion,  filled  the  place. 
To  complete  tlieir  misery,  internal  discord, 
that  worst  of  evils,  added  to  the  horror  of  the 
scene.     Some    were    for  laying   down    their 
arms ;  others,  preferring  self-desfruction,  pro- 
posed a  general  massacre;  while  a  third  party 
thought  it  better  to  sally  out,  and  die  sword 
in  hand,  fighting  in  the  cause  of  liberty  ;  a 
brave  and  generous  coimsel,  difterent^  indeed, 


^00  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    from  tlie  advice  of  their  comrades,  but  worthy 

IV  •^ 

of  heroic  minds. 

L.   The  expedient  of  surrendering  at  dis- 
cretion M'as   adopted   by  one   of  the  leading 
chiefs.  His  name  was  Dinis;  a  man  advanced 
in  years,  and  by  long  experience  convinced  as 
well  of  the  clemency  as  the  terror  of  tlie  Ho- 
man  name.     To   submit,  he  said,  was  tlieir 
only   remedy  ;    and,  accordingly,  he   threw 
himself,  his  wife,  and  children,  on  the  mercy 
of  t]ic  conqueror.       He  was  followed  by  the 
weaker  sex,  and  all  who  preferred  slavery  to  a' 
glorious  death.     Two  other  chiefs,  by  name 
Tarsa  and  Turesis,  advised  bolder  measures. 
Between  their  opposite  sentiments,  the  young 
and  vigorous  v.ere  divided.   To  ftill  witli  foil- 
ing li]:jerty  was   the  resolution  of  both  ;  but 
they  chose  different  modes.     Tarsa  declared 
for  immediate  deatii,  the  end  of  all  hopes  and 
fears  ;  and,  to   lead  tl,e  way,  he  plunged   a 
poignard  in  his  breast.   Numbers  followed  his 
example.     Tarsesis  v/as  still  resolved  to  sally 
out ;  and,  for  that  purpose,  he  waited  for  the 
advantage  of  the  night.     The  Roman   ge- 
neral received  intelligence,  and,  accordingly. 


OP    TACITUS.  201 


IV. 


strengthened  the  guards  at  every  post.  Night  book 
came  on,  anrl  brought  Vvith  it  utter  darkness 
and  tempestuous  weather.  ^V'i■h  shouts  and 
horrible  howUngs,  followed  at  intervals  by  a 
profound  and  awful  silence,  the  Barbarians 
kept  the  besiegers  in  a  constant  alarm.  8a- 
binus  rounded  the  watch,  and  at  every  post 
exhorted  his  men  to  be  neither  terrified  by 
•savaoic  bowlines ,  nor  lulled  into  security  by 
deceitful  stillne.'ss.  If  taken  by  surprise,  they 
would  give  to  an  insidious  enemy  every  ad-^ 
vantai'-e.  "  Let  each  man  contiiuie  fixed  at 
*'  ills  post;  and  let  no  darts  be  thrown  at  ran- 
^'  dom,  and,  by  consequence,  without  effect," 

LI.  The  Barl^arians,  in  different  divisions, 
came  rusliiim'  down  from  then"  hills.  With 
massy  stones,  witli  clubs  hardened  by  fire,  and 
with  trunks  of  trees,  they  attenipted  to  batter 
a  breach  in  the  lloman  palisade ;  they  threw 
Inirdles,  faggots,  and  dead  i)odies  into  the 
trenches  ;  they  laid  bridges  over  the  fosse,  and 
applied  f^aliiig  ladders  to  the  rampart;  they 
grasped  hold  ol  the  works  ;  they  endeavoured 
to  force  tlieir  way,  and  fouglit  hand  to  hand. 
The  garrison  drove  them  back  with  their 
javeljnSj  beat  them  down  with  their  bucklers, 


Z0%  THE    ANKALS 

BOOK   and  overwhelmed   them  with  hiii:je  heaps  of 

IV.  .  .  , 

stones.  Both  sides  fouirJit  with  obstinate 
bravery ;  the  Romans  to  complete  a  victory 
ahnost  gained  ah'eady,  and  to  avoid  the  dis- 
grace of  suffering  it  to  be  wrested  from  them. 
On  the  part  of  the  Barbarians,  despair  w-as 
courage  ;  the  last  struggle  for  life  inspired 
them,  and  the  shrieks  of  their  wives  and  mo- 
thers roused  them  to  deeds  of  valour. 

The  darkness  of  tlie  night  favoured  equally 
the  coward  and  the  brave.  Blows  were  given 
at  random,  and  where  they  fell  was  uncertain; 
wounds  were  received,  no  man  could  tell  from 
Avhom.      Friends  and  enemies    were    mixed 
without  distinction.    The  shouts  of  the  Bar- 
barians, reverberated  from  tlie  nei2;hbouring 
hills,  sounded  in  the  ear  of  the  llomans,  as  if 
the  uproar  was  at  their  backs.  Thev  thought 
the  enemy  had  stormed  the  entrenchments, 
and  they  fled  from   their  posts.     Tlie  Bar- 
barians, however,  were  not  able  to  force  the 
works.  The  number  tliat  entered  Avas  incon- 
siderable. At  the  dawn  of  day  they  beheld  a 
melanchply  spectacle ;   the   bravest  of  their 
comrades  either  disabled  by  their  w^ounds,  or 
lying  dead  on  the  spot.    Disheartened  at  tlie 


OF    TACITUS.  203 


26. 


gidit,  thcv  fled  to  their  fortifications,  and  were    book 
at  last  compelled   to  surrender  at  discretion.  ^^'^^'^ 

A  A.  U.  C. 

The  people  in  the  neighbourhood  made  a  p|- 
vohmtar}^  submission .  The  few  that  still  held 
out,  were  protected  by  the  severity  of  the  win- 
ter, ^rhich  setting  in,  as  is  usual  near  ]Mount 
Ilicmus,  with  intense  rigour,  the  Roman  ge- 
neral could  neitlier  attack  them  in  their  fast-^ 
nesseS;  nor  reduce  them  by  a  siege. 

LII.  At  liomCj  in  the  mean  time,  the  im- 
perial family  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  dis- 
traction. As  a  prelude  to  the  fate  of  Agrip- 
pina,  a  prosecution  was  cominenced  against 
Claudia  Pulchra,  lier  near  relation.  Domitius 
Afer  fa  J  was  the  prosecutor ;  a  man  who  had 
lately  discharged  the  oitice  of  praetor,  but  had 
not  risen  to  any  degree  of  eminence  or  con- 
sideration in  tlie  state.  Aspiiing,  bold,  and 
turbulent,  he  was  now  determined  to  advance 
himself,  by  any  means,  however  ilagitiour>. 
The  heads  of  his  accusalion  were  adultery 
witli  Furnius  ;  a  design  to  poison  the  emperor, 
and  the  secret  practice  of  spells  and  magic  in- 
cantations. The  hauglity  spirit  of  Agrippina, 
but  ill  could  brook  the  dancjer  of  her  friend. 
She  ruslied  to  the  presence  of  Tiberi as .  Find- 


204  '  THE    ANNALS 

jjooK  ino-  him  in  the  act  of  offering;  a  sacrifice  to  tlie 
manes  of  Augustus,  she  accosted  him  in  a  tone 
of  vehemence.  "  The  piety,"  she  said,  "wliich 
*'  thus  employs  itself  in  slaying;  victims  to  the 
*'  deceased  emperor,  agrees  but  ill  "\vith  the 
''  hatred  that  persecutes  his  posterity.  Those 
^'  are  senseless  statues  which  you  adore  ;  they 
* '  are  not  animated  with  the  spiri  t  of  Augustus. 
*^  His  descendants  are  living  images  of  him ; 
*'  and  vet  even  thev,  whose  veins  arc  warm 
''  with  his  celestial  blood,  stand  trembling  on 
*'  the  brink  of  peril.  "Why  is  Claudia  Pulchra 
^'  devoted  to  destruction  ?  What  has  she  com- 
"  mitted  ?  She  has  loved  Agrippina,  to  excess 
^'  has  loved  her  ;  that  is  her  only  crime.  Im- 
"^  provident  "woman  !  she  might  have  remem- 
*'  bered  Sosia  (b),  undone  and  ruined  for  no 
''  other  reason."  Tiberius  felt  the  reproach  : 
it  drew  from  that  inscrutable  breast  a  sudden 
burst  of  resentment.  He  told  Agrippina,  in  a 
Greek  verse,  ''  You  are  hurt,  because  you  do 
'•  not  reign  (c)."  Fulchra  and  Finnius  were 
both  condemned.  In  the  conduct  of  tiie  pro- 
secution 1 'omitius  Afer  shone  forllj  with  such 
a  flame  of  eloquence,  tliat  he  ranked  at  once 
with  the  most  celebrated orat'jn^,  and,  by  the 
.suffrage  of  Tiberius,  was  pronounced  an  ori-r 


OF    TACITUS.  .  205 


filial  genius,  (le])en(lin£j  on  his  own  native  book 
energy.  From  that  time,  he  pursued  the  ca- 
reer of  eloquence,  sometimes  engaged  on  the 
side  of  tlie  accused,  often  against  them,  and 
alwa3's  doing  more  honour  to  his  talents,  than 
to  his  moral  character.  As  age  advanced  upon 
him,  the  love  of  Jiearing  himself  talk  conti- 
nued, when  the  ability  was  gone  fdj.  He  re- 
mained, Vvith  decayed  faculties,  asuperannu-. 
ated  orator. 

LIII.  AcRippiNA,  v.eakened  by  a  fit  of  ill- 
ness, but  still  retauiing  the  pride  of  her  cha- 
racter, received  a  visit  irom  Tiberius.  She  re- 
mained for  some  time  fixed  in  silence ;  tears 
only  forced  their  v/ay.  At  length,  in  terms 
of  supplication,  mixed  with  bitter  reproaches, 
slie  desired  him  to  consider,  "  that  vridotv'hood 
*'  is  a  state  of  destitution.  A  second  marriaire 
'^  might  assuac'e  her  sorrows.  The  season  of 
"  her  youth  was  not  entire! v  passed,  and  for  a 
''  woman  of  honour  there  was  no  resource  but 
"  in  the  con  jujml  state.  There  were  at  Home 
"  citizensof  illustrious  rank,  vrho  would,  with 
"  pride,  take  the  vridow  and  the  cliildren  of 
"  Germanicus  to  their  protection."  Tiberius 
saw  in  this  request  a  spirit  of  ambition,  that 


206  THE    AN^'ALS 

BOOK    looked  proudly  towards  the  imperial  digiiit}^ 

v^^v'w  Unwilling,  notwithstanding,  to  discover  his 

•779.  ■  jealousy,  he  heard  her  with  calm  indifference, 

26. '    and   left   her  without  an   answer.     For  this 

anecdote,  not  to  be  found  in  the  historians  of 

the  time,  I  am  indebted  to  the  vouno;er  Asrip- 

pina  faj,  the  mother  of  the  emperor  Nero, 

who,  in  the  memoirs  of  her  life,  has  related 

her  own  misfortunes  and  those  of  her  fiunilv. 

LIV.  The  violence  of  Agrlppina's  passions, 
and  the  imprudence  of  her  conduct,  exposed 
her  to  the  malice  of  Sejanus,  who  now  had 
laid  the  seed-plots  of  her  destruction.  He  sent 
his  agents  to  inform  her,  under  a  mask  of 
friendship,  that  she  would  do  well  to  beware 
of  poison,  and  avoid  eating  at  the  emperor's 
table.  To  dissemble  was  not  the  talent  of 
Agrippina.  Invited  by  Tiberius,  and  placed 
tiear  his  person,  she  remained  silent,  pensive, 
TTith  downcast  eyes,  abstaining  froni  every 
thing  placed  before  her.  Tiberius  marked  her 
beliaviour,  or  perhaps  the  hint  was  previously 
given.  To  put  her  to  the  test,  he  praised  the 
apples  that  stood  near  him,  and  helped  her 
"^"ith  his  own  hand.  Agrippina  was  alarmed. 
Without  so  much  as  tasting  the  fruity  she  gave 


OF   TACJTUS.  20; 

it  to  the  servants  to  be  conveyed  away  ffijr 
Tiberius,  always  master  of  lumself,  with  seeni- 
ini^  inadvertence  overlooked  lier  behaviour, 
but  took  an  opportunity  to  sa}'  privatelv  to 
his  mother,  "Shoukl  this  vroman  be  treated 
'^  with  severity,  will  any  body  wonder,  vrhen 
*'  she  now  imputes  to  me  the  guilt  of  dealing 
''  in  poison  ?"  A  report  prevailed  soon  after, 
that  the  fate  of  Agrippina  v>'as  determined  ; 
but  the  emperor  would  not  venture  toact  witli 
open  violence  ;  he  knev/  that  the  public  eye 
was  u.pon  him,  anc|  resolved,  for  that  reason, 
to  lie  in  wait  fi:)r  a  clandestine  murder. 

LV.  To  check  the  murmurs  of  suspicion,, 
and  draw  the  public  attention  to  other  objects, 
Tiberius  once  more  attended  the  debates  of 
the  fathers,  and  ""ave  audience  for  several  days 
to  the  ambassadors  from  different  parts  of 
Asia,  all  with  ardour  claiming  a  right  to  build-, 
in  their  respective  territories,  the  temple  al- 
ready mentioned.  Eleven  cities  rivalled  er^ch 
other,  not  in  power  and  opulence,  but  with 
equal  zeal  contending  for  the  preference. 
They  stated,  with  little  variation,  the  antrquity 
of  their  origin,  and  their  fidelity  to  Kome,  in 
tlie  various  wars  with  Persius  ^cj.  Aristonicui^ 
I 


£08  THE    ANNALS 

BooxK  Slid  other  eastern  princes.  The  people  of 
Iiyp-^>:'pes  r<^ j,  the  Trallians,  Laodiceans,  and 
I\Iagnesians,  were  deemed  unequal  to  the  ex- 
pence,  and,  for  that  reason,  thrown  out  of  the 
case.  The  inhabitants  of  Ihum  (c)  boasted 
that  Troy  was  the  cradle  of  the  Roman  peo- 
ple, and  o\\  that  foundation  rested  their  pre- 
tensions. The  citizens  of  lialicamassu:  fdj 
held  the  senate  for  some  time  in  suspense. 
It  was  alleged  on  their  behalf,  that,  during  a 
series  of  twelve  hundred  years,  they  had  not 
felt  the  shock  of  an  earthquake,  and  they  pro- 
mised to  build  an  edifice  on  a  solid  rock. 
The  city  of  Pero;amus  made  a  merit  of  hav- 
ing  already  built  a  temple  in  honour  of  Au- 
gustus ;  but  that  distinction  was  deemed  suf- 
ficient. At  Ephesus,  where  Diana  was  adored, 
and  at  ^liletus,  where  Apollo  was  worshipped, 
a  nev/  object  of  veneration  was  deemed  un-^ 
necessary. 

The  question  v>'as  now  reduced  to  the  cities 
of  Sardes  and  Smyrna.  The  former  read  a 
decree,  in  which  they  were  acknowledged  by 
the  Etrurians  as  a  kindred  nation.  By  this 
document  it  appeared,  that  Tyrrhenus  and 
Lydus,  both  sons  of  king  Atys  f cj,  fmdin.g 


OF    TACITUS.  209 

their  country  overstocked  with  inhabitants,    book 

IV. 

agreed  to  form  a  separation.  Lydus  conti-  ^  /-^ 
luied  to  occupy  his  native  territory,  and  779. 
Tyrrhenus  withdrew  to  settle  a  new  colony.  2$. 
From  that  time  the  two  nations  were  called 
by  the  names  of  their  respective  chiefs  ;  in 
Asia,  Lydians  ;  Tyrrhenians  in  Italy.  The 
Lydians  multiplied  their  numbers  with  such 
increase,  that  they  overflowed  a  second  time. 
A  migration  passed  over  into  Greece,  and 
from  Pelops,  their  leader,  gave  to  the  new 
territory  the  name  of  Peloponnesus.  Be- 
sides these  vouchers,  the  people  of  Sardes 
produced  letters  from  some  of  the  Roman 
generals,  and  also  treaties  of  alliance  during 
the  wars  in  Macedonia.  Nor  did  they  for- 
get to  state  the  number  of  rivers  that  ferti- 
lized their  soil,  the  temperature  of  their  cli- 
mate, and  the  plenty  that  covered  the  face 
of  the  country. 

LVI.  The  deputies  from  Smyrna  C^J 
thought  fit  to  grace  their  cause  with  the  an- 
tiquity of  their  origin :  but  whether  their  city 
was  founded  by  Tantalus,  the  son  of  Jupiter ; 
by  Theseus,  the  son  of  a  God  ;  or  by  one  of 
the  ancient  Amazons,  they  left  as  a  question 

VOL,    II,  I». 


/ 


i^lO  THE    ANNALlI 

BOOK    of  curiosity  ;  relying  more  on  their  constant 
attachment  to  the  Romans,  whom  they  had 
assisted  with  a  naval  force,  not  only  in  their 
wars  with  foreign  nations,  but  in  those  that 
involved  all  Italy.     They  thought  it  of  mo- 
ment to  observe,  that,  of  all  the  cities  in  Asia, 
they  were  the  first  that  built  a  temple  in  ho- 
nour of  the  Roman  name.     This  they  had 
done  in  the  consulship  of  ]\Iarcus  Porcius 
Cato  (b),  at  a  time  when  the  republic  was 
vmdoubtedly  in  a  flourishing  condition,  but 
had  not  yet  attained   that  meridian   splen- 
dor, which   afterwards   followed  the  success 
of  her  arms.     Carthage  (c )  still  subsisted, 
and  the  kings  of  Asia  were  unsubdued.    For 
proof  of  still  greater  merit,  the  deputies  ap- 
pealed to  the   testimony   of   Lucius    Sylla. 
When   the   legions  under  that  connnander, 
well  nigh  reduced  to  famine  by  the  severity 
of  the    A\  inter,  and    distressed  for   want  of 
clothing,  were  in  danger  of  being  destroyed, 
their  condition    was   no   sooner    known    at 
Smyrna,   than  the  people,    then  assembled 
in  a  public  convention,  with  one  generous 
impulse,   threw  off  their  clothes,   and  sent 
them  to  supply  the  necessities  of  the  Roman 
army.     The  (question  was  thereupon  put  by 
the  senate,  and  the  city  of  Smyrna  prevailed. 


OF  TaOitus.  211 

Vibius  Marsus  moved,  that,  in  aid  to  Mar-  ^^^^ 
cus  Lepidus,  who  had  obtained  the  province  ^^^^Tc. 
by  lot,  an  officer  extraordinary  should  be  put    l\ 
in  commission,  to  superintend  the  building 
of  the  temple.     The  delicacy  of  Lepidus  not 
permitting  him  to  choose  his  coadjutor,  the 
names  of  such  as  were   of  priT^torian   rank 
were  drawn  by  lot,  and  the  chance  fell  on  Va- 
lerius Naso. 

LVII.  In  this  juncture,  Tiberius,  bent  on 
the  measure  which  he  had  often  ruminated, 
and  as  often  procrastinated,  set  out  for  Cam- 
pania, under  the  plausible  pretence  of  dedi- 
cating a  temple  to  Jupiter  at  Capua,  and 
another  to  Augustus  at  Nola,  but,  in  truth, 
determined  never  to  return  to  Rome.  Re- 
lying on  the  authority  of  eminent  historians, 
I  have  ascribed  the  secret  cause  of  this  re- 
treat to  the  artifice  of  Sejanus  fa) ;  but  when 
it  is  considered,  that,  after  the  downfal  of 
that  minister,  Tiberius  passed  the  six  fol- 
lowing years  in  the  same  recluse  manner,  1 
am  inclined  to  refer  the  whole  to  the  work- 
ings of  a  dark  and  politic  spirit,  that  wished 
to  hide  in  solitude  the  lust  and  cruelty, 
which  in  his  actions  were  too  manifest  to  the 
world.     At  Rome  tliere  was  a  current  opt- 

p  2 


213  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  nion,  that,  towards  the  end  of  life,  he  was  un- 

IV. 

wiUing  to  exhibit  to  piibhc  view  a  tall  ema- 
ciated figure  (bj,  a  body  sinking  under  the 
weight  of  years,  a  bald  head,  a  scrofulous  face, 
and  a  number  of  blotches  covered  with  me- 
dical applications  (c).  It  is  well  known, 
that  during  his  retreat  at  the  Isle  of  Rhodes, 
he  shunned  society,  and  passed  his  time  in 
secret  gratifications.  According  to  some 
writers,  it  was  the  domineering  spirit  (d)  of 
his  mother  that  drove  him  from  Rome.  To 
admit  her  to  a  share  in  the  government  was 
not  in  his  nature  :  and  to  exclude  her  altoge- 
ther was  not  in  his  power,  since  it  was  to  her 
that  he  owed  his  elevation.  Augustus,  it  is 
certain,  at  one  point  of  time,  favoured  Ger- 
manicus,  the  grandson  of  his  sister,  and  even 
thought  of  raising  him  to  the  supreme  au- 
thority ;  but>  being  governed  by  his  wife,  he 
gave  her  son  the  preference,  and  left  Ger- 
manicus  to  be  adopted  by  Tiberius.  With 
these  services  Livia  taxed  her  son  ;  and 
what  she  had  given,  she  considered  as  a  de- 
posit liable  to  be  resumed. 

LVIII.  Tiberius  departed  from  Rome 
with  a  slender  retinue.  In  his  train  were 
Cocceius  Nerva  (a),  a  senator  of  consular 


779. 

A.  D. 

26. 


OF    TACITUS.  213 

rank,  celebrated  for  his  legal  knowledge  ;  Se-   ^^^^ 
janus   the    favourite  minister;  and  Curtins  "^J^^^ 
Atticus  (bj,  a  Roman  knight.     These  were 
the  only  persons  of  rank.  Tlie  rest  were  dis- 
tinguished by  nothing  but  their   literature ; 
mostly  Greeks  fcj,  men  whose  talents  amus- 
ed him  in  his  hours  of  leisure.     The  profess- 
ors of  judicial  astrology  declared  their  opi- 
nion, that  the  position  of  the  planets,  under 
which  Tiberius  left  the  capital,  made  his  re- 
turn   impossible.     This    prediction    gained 
credit,  and  the  death  of  the  emperor  being, 
by  consequence,  thought  near  at  hand,  num- 
bers, who  had  been  bold  enough  to  circulate 
the  rumour,  brought  on   their  own  destruc-    ' 
tion.  That  the  prince  should  remain,  during 
the  space  of  eleven  years,  a  voluntary  exile 
from  the  seat  of  government,  was  an  event 
beyond  the  reach  of  human  foresight.     In 
the  end,  however,  the  art  of  such,  as  pretend 
to  see  into  futurity,  was    discovered  to  be 
vain  and  frivolous.     It  was  seen  how  nearly 
truth   and    falsehood    are   allied,    and   how 
much  the  facts,  which  happen  to  be  foretold, 
are  involved    in  darkness.     That    Tiberius 
would  return  no  more,  was  a  prophecy  veri- 
fied by  the  event ;  the  rest  was  altogether 
visionary,  since  we  find,  that,  long  after  that 
time,  he  appeared  in  the  neighbourhood  of 


214  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    Rome,  sometimes  on  the  adjacent  shore,  of- 


ten in  the  suburbs,  and  died  at  last  in  the 

A.  U  C 

779.     extremity  of  old  a^e, 

26. 

LIX.  While  the  reports  of  the  astrolo^ 
gers  were  scattered  abroad,  an  accident,  which 
put  Tiberius  in  danger  of  his  life,  added  to 
the  credulity  of  the  people,  but,  at  the  same 
time,  raised  Sejanus  higher  than  ever  in  the 
affections  and  esteem  of  his  master.  It  hap- 
pened, that  in  a  cave  formed  by  nature,  at  a 
villa  called  Spelunca  (a),  between  the  Gulf 
of  Amycleand  the  hills  of  Fond  i, Tiberius  was 
at  a  banquet  with  a  party  of  his  friends,  when 
the  stones  at  the  entrance  gave  way  on  a  sud* 
den,  and  crushed  some  of  the  attendants.  The 
guests  were  alarmed,  and  fled  for  safety.  Se- 
janus, to  protect  his  master,  fell  on  his  knee, 
and  with  his  whole  force  sustained  the  im- 
pending weight.  In  that  attitude  he  was 
found  by  the  soldiers,  who  came  to  relieve 
the  prince.  From  that  time  the  power  of 
the  minister  knew  no  bounds.  A  man,  who, 
in  the  moment  of  danger,  could  shew  so  much 
zeal  for  his  master,  and  so  little  attention  to 
himself,  was  heard  with  affection  and  unlimit- 
ed confidence.  His  counsels,  however  perni- 
cious, were  received  as  the  dictates  of  truth 
^nd  honour. 


OF  TACITUS.  215 

Towards  the  children  of  Gerinanicus,  Se-    book 

IV. 

Janus  affected  to  act  with  the  integrity  of  a 
judge,  while  in  secret  he  was  their  inveterate 
enemy.  He  suborned  a  band  of  accusers ; 
and  Nero,  then  presumptive  heir  to  the  em- 
pire, was  the  first  devoted  victim.  The3'oung 
prince,  imhaclvuej^cd  in  the  ^viiys  of  men, 
modest  in  his  deportment,  and  in  his  man- 
ners amiable,  had  not  the  prudence  that 
knows  how  to  temporise  and  bend  to  occa- 
sions. The  freedmen,  and  others  about  his 
person,  eager  to  grasp  at  power,  encouraged 
him  to  act  with  firmness,  and  a  spirit  suited 
to  his  rank.  Such  behaviour,  they  told  him, 
would  gratify  the  wishes  of  the  people  ;  the 
army  desired  it,  and  the  pride  of  Sejanus 
would  soon  be  crest-fallen,  though  at  pre- 
sent he  triumphed  over  the  worn-out  facul- 
ties of  a  superannuated  emperor,  and  the 
careless  disposition  of  a  young  and  inexpe- 
j'ienced  prince, 

LX.  KousED  by  these  discourses,  Nero' 
be<jfan  to  throw  off  all  reserve.  Guilt  Avas 
foreign  to  his  heart  ;  but  expressions  of  re- 
sentment fell  from  him,  inconsiderate,  rash 
and  unguarded.  His  words  were  caught  up 
hy  spies  about  liis  person^  and  reported  with 


216 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK  aijfyravation.   Against  the  malice  of  insidious 

IV.        '^^  o  ^      ^ 

men  the  prince  had  no  opportunity  to  defend 
himself.  He  Hved  in  constant  anxiety,  and 
every  day  brought  some  new  alarm.  Some 
of  the  domestics  avoided  his  presence ; 
others  paid  a  formal  salute,  and  coldly  pass- 
ed away  ;  the  greatest  part  entered  into  talk, 
and  abruptly  broke  off  the  conversation  ; 
while  the  creatures  of  vSejanus,  affecting  to 
be  free  and  easy,  added  mockery  to  their  ar- 
rogance. 

The  emperor  received  the  prince  with  a 
$tern  countenance,  or  an  ambiouous  smile. 
Whether  Nero  spoke,  or  suppressed  his 
thoughts,  every  word  was  misconstrued,  and 
even  silence  was  a  crime.  The  night  itself 
gave  him  no  respite  from  his  cares,  no  re- 
treat from  danger.  His  waking  moments, 
his  repose,  his  sighs,  his  very  dreams,  in- 
formed against  him  :  his  wife  (a)  carried  the 
tale  to  her  mother  Livia,  and  the  last  whis- 
pered every  thing  to  Sejanus.  By  that  dark 
politician  even  Drusus,  the  brother  of  Nero, 
was  drawn  into  the  conspiracy.  To  dazzle 
the  imagination  of  a  stripling,  the  splendor 
of  empire,  and  the  sure  succession,  when  the 
ruin   of  the   elder   brotl>er  was  completed. 


OF    TACITUS.  217 

were  held  forth  as  bright  temptations.    The   book 
spirit  of  contention,  common  between  bro- ..^n-^ 

.  A.  U,  C. 

thers,  was  with  Drusus  an  additional  motive  ;    '77a 

A.  D. 

and  the  partiality  of  iVgrippina  for  her  eldest  -^s. 
son  inflamed  a  young  man,  who  was  by  na- 
ture violent  and  ambitious.  Sejanus,  in  the 
mean  time,  while  he  seemed  to  cherish  Dru- 
sus, was  busily  employed  in  schemes  to  un- 
dermine him.  He  knew  the  haughty  temper 
of  the  prince,  and  from  the  violence  of  his 
passions  expected  to  derive  every  advantage. 

LXI.  Towards  the  end  of  the  year  died 
two  illustrious  citizens  fa  J,  Asinius  Agrippa, 
and  Quintus  Ilaterius.  The  former  was  of 
an  honourable  but  not  ancient  family.  His 
own  character  reflected  lustre  on  his  ances- 
tors. Ilaterius  fdj  was  descended  from  a 
race  of  senators.  Ilis  eloquence,  while  he 
lived,  was  in  the  hiii;hest  celebrity  ;  but  his 
writings,  published  since  his  death,  are  not 
regarded  as  monuments  of  genius.  Warm 
and  rapid,  he  succeeded  more  through  hap- 
piness than  care.  Diligence  and  depth  of 
thinking,  which  give  the  last  finishing  to 
other  works,  and  stamp  their  value  with  pos- 
terity, were  not  the  talent  of  Haterius.  His 
flowing  period,  and  that  harmonious  cadence 


213  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  ^vhich  charmed  in  the  living  orator,  are  now 
no  longer  heard.  His  page  remains  a  dead 
letter,  without  grace  or  energy. 


A.  u.  c.       LXII.  In  the  next  consulship,  which  was 
A.^D.     that  of  Marcus  Licinius  and  Lucius  Calpur- 
nius,   an  unioreseen  disaster,  no  sooner  be- 
gun than  ended,  laid  a  scene  of  ruin  e(pial  to 
the  havoc  of  the  most  destructive  war.     A 
man   of  the  name  of  Atilius,   the  son  of  a 
freedman,  undertook  at  Fidcna  faj  to  build 
an  amphitheatre  for  the  exhibition  of  gladia- 
tors.    The   foundation  was   slight,  and   the 
.superstructure  not   sutKiciently  braced  ;  the 
work  of  a  man,  Avho  had  neither  the  pride 
of  wealth,  nor  the  ambition  to  make  himself 
of  consequence   in   a  municipal  town.     The 
profit  that  might  probably  arise  from  such  a 
scheme,  was  all  he  had  in  view.    The  people, 
under  the  austerity  of  a  rigid  and  unsocial 
government  deprived  of  their  usual  diver- 
sions, were  eager  for  the  novelty  of  a  public 
spectacle  fhj  ;  and  the  place  being  at  no 
great  distance  from  Kome,  a  vast  conHux  of 
men  and  women,  old  and  young,  crowded  to- 
gether.    The    consequence    was,    that    the 
building,   overloaded  with  spectators,  gave 
way  at  once.     A-U  who  were  under  the  roof, 


OF  TACITUS.  219 

besides  a  prodi<>;ious  multitude  that  stood  book. 
j-ound  the  place,  were  crushed  under  the 
ruins.  The  condition  of  those  who  perished 
instantly,  was  the  happiest.  They  escaped 
the  pangs  of  death,  while  the  maimed  and 
lacerated  lingered  in  torn^ent,  beholding,  as 
long  as  day-light  lasted,  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren in  equal  agony,  and,  during  the  night, 
pierced  to  the  heart  b}^  their  shrieks  and 
groans,  A  calamity  so  fatal  was  soon  known 
round  the  country.  Crowds  from  all  quar- 
ters went  to  view  the  melancholy  scene.  One 
lamented  a  brother,  another  his  near  rela- 
tion  ;  children  wept  for  their  parents,  arid 
almost  all  for  their  friends.  Such  as  by  their 
avocations  had  been  led  a  difterent  way,  were 
given  up  for  lost.  The  real  sufferers  were 
still  unknown,  and,  in  that  dreadful  state  of 
suspense,  every  bosom  panted  with  doubt 
and  fear, 

LXIII.  The  ruins  were  no  sooner  re- 
moved, than  the  crowd  rushed  in  to  examine 
the  place.  They  gathered  round  the  dead 
bodies  j  they  clasped  them  in  their  arms ; 
they  imprinted  kisses,  and  often  mistook 
the  person.  Disfigured  faces,  parity  of  age, 
fiad  similitude  of  form  and  feature,  occasion^ 


220  THE  ANNALS 

ed  great  confusion.  Claims  were  made,  a 
tender  contest  followed,  and  errors  were  ac- 
knowledged. The  number  of  killed  or  maim- 
ed was  not  less  than  fifty  thousand  (a).  The 
senate  provided  by  a  decree,  that,  for  the  fu- 
ture, no  man,  Avhose  fortune  was  under  four 
hundred  thousand  sesterces,  should  presume 
to  exhibit  a  spectacle  of  gladiators,  and  that, 
till  the  foundation  was  examined,  no  amphi- 
theatre should  be  erected.  Atilius,  the 
builder,  was  condemned  to  banishment.  The 
grandees  of  Rome  displayed  their  humanity 
on  this  occasion :  they  threw  open  their 
doors  ;  they  ordered  medicines  to  be  distri- 
buted, and  the  physicians  attended  with  as- 
siduity in  every  quarter.  The  city  of  Rome 
recalled,  in  that  juncture,  an  image  of  an- 
cient manners,  when,  after  a  battle  bravely 
fought,  the  sick  and  wounded  were  received 
with  open  arms,  and  relieved  by  the  genero- 
sity of  their  country. 

LXIV.  While  the  public  mind  was  still 
bleeding  for  the  late  calamity,  a  dreadful  fire 
laid  waste  a  great  part  of  the  city.  Mount 
Caelius  (a)\v2L?>  reduced  to  ashes.  The  popu- 
lace began  to  murmur.  The  year,  they  said, 
was  big  with  disasters,  and  the  prince  de« 
JO 


OF    TACITUS.  221 

parted  from  Rome  under  an  evil  constella-    book 

IV. 

tion.  Such  is  the  logic  of  the  multitude  : 
what  happens  by  chance  they  impute  to  de- 
sign. To  appease  their  discontent,  Tiberius 
ordered  a  distribution  of  money  in  proportion 
to  the  damage  of  individuals.  For  tiiis  act 
of  liberality,  the  senate  passed  a  vote  of 
thanks,  and  the  people  were  loud  in  praise 
of  munificence,  so  seasonably  applied,  and 
granted  indiscriminately.  No  man  had  oc- 
casion to  make  interest  ;  it  was  enough  that 
he  was  a  sufferer.  The  fathers  came  to  a  re- 
solution, that  Mount  Ca^lius,  wiiere  a  statue 
of  Tiberius,  in  the  house  of  Junius  the  se- 
nator, escaped  the  fury  of  the  flames,  should 
for  the  future  be  called  Mount  Augustus.  A 
prodigy  of  a  similar  nature  happened  in  ancient 
times.  The  statue  (bj  of  Claudia  Quinctia 
'vvas  saved  twice  from  a  general  conflagration, 
and,  on  that  account,  placed  and  dedicated 
in  the  temple  of  the  Mother  of  the  Gods. 
The  Claudian  family  was  ever  after  consider- 
ed as  peculiarly  favoured  by  heaven,  and  the 
spot  where  the  gods  were  lately  so  propiiiou 
to  Tiberius,  was  declared  to  be  consecrated 
ground. 

LXV.  It  will  not  perhaps  be  improper  to 


5- 


2'22  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  mention  in  this  place,  that  the  mount,  of 
which  we  have  been  speaking,  was,  in  the 
early  ages  of  Rome,  covered  with  a  grove  of 
oaks,  and  for  that  reason  called  Querquetu- 
i.ANus.  It  took  afterwards  the  name  of  Ca> 
lins  from  Ca:^les  Vibenna,  an  Etrurian  chief, 
who  marched  at  the  head  of  his  countrymen, 
to  assist  the  Romans,  and  for  that  service 
had  the  spot  assigned  to  him  as  a  canton  for 
himself  and  his  people.  Whether  this  was 
the  act  of  Tarquinius  Pi  iscus,  or  some  other 
Roman  king,  is  not  settled  by  the  historians. 
Thus  much  is  certain  ;  the  number  trans- 
planted was  so  great,  that  their  new  habita- 
tion extended  from  the  mount  alouir  the 
plain  beneath,  as  far  as  the  spot  where  the 
forum  stands  at  present.  From  those  set- 
tlers the  Tuscan  Street  derives  its 
name  (a). 

LXVI.  Though  the  sufferings  of  the  peo- 
ple, in  their  late  distress,  v.ere  alleviated  by 
the  bounty  of  the  prince,  and  the  humanity 
of  the  o;reat,  there  was  still  an  evil,  aoainst 
which  no  remedy  could  be  found.  The  crew 
of  informers  rose  in  credit  everyday,  and  co- 
vered the  city  with  consternation.  Quintilius 
Varus  (aj,  the  son  of  Claudia  Pulchra,  and 


OF    TACITUS.  223 

V 

nearly  related  to   tlie  emperor,  was   marked    book 

out  as  a  victim.  His  laru;e  possessions  tempt-  <-^r--o 

A.  u.  c, 

ed  Domitius  Afer  wlio  had  already  ruined  the     7so. 
mother.     The  blow  now  aimed  at  the  son,     27. 
was  no  more  than  was  expected  from  a  man, 
who    had   lived    in   indigence,    and,    having 
squandered  the  wages    of  his   late  iniquity, 
was  ready  to  find  a  new  quarry  for  his  avarice. 
But  that  a  man  like  Publius  Dolubella,  no- 
bly descended,  and  related  to  Varus,  should 
become  an  instrument  in  the  destruction  of 
his  own  family,  was  matter  of  wonder.    The 
senate  stopped  the  progress  of  the  mischief. 
They  resolved  that  the  cause  should  stand 
over  till  the  emperor's  return  to  Rome.  Pro- 
crastination was  the   only  refuge  of  the  un- 
happy. 

LXVII.  Tiberius,  in  tlie  mean  time,  de- 
dicated the  two  temples  in  Campania,  which 
served  him  as  a  pretext  for  quitting  the  city 
of  Rome.  That  business  finished,  he  issued 
an  edict,  warning  the  neighbouring  cities  not 
to  intrude  upon  his  privacy.  For  better  secu- 
rity, he  placed  a  guard  at  proper  stations,  to 
pTCvent  all  access  to  his  person.  These  pre- 
cautions, however,  did  not  content  hhii. 
Hating  the  municipal  towns,  weary  of  the  co- 


224  THE    ANNAtS 

BOOK   lonies,  and  sick  of  every  thin*  on  the  conti- 
nent,  he  passed  over  to  Caprea^  fa  J,  a  small 
island,   separated  from   the  promontory   of 
Siirrentum  by  an  arm  of  the  sea,  not  more 
than  three  miles  broad.  Defended  there  from 
all  intrusion,  and  delii>hted  with  the  solitude 
of  the  place,  he  sequestered  himself  from  the 
world,  seeing,  as  may   be    imagined,    many 
circumstances  suited  to  his  humour.     Not  a 
single  port  in   the  channel  ;  the  stations  but 
few,  and   those  accessible  only  to  small  ves- 
sels ;  no  part  of  the  island,  where  men  could 
land  unobserved    fb)  by  the  sentinels  ;  the 
climate  inviting ;  in  the  winter  a  soft  and  ge- 
nial air,  under  the   shelter  of  a  mountain 
that  repels  the  inclemency  of  the  winds  ;  in 
the  summer,  the  heat  allayed  by  the  western 
breeze  ;  the  sea  presenting  a  smooth  expanse, 
and  opening  a  view  of  the    bay  of  Naples, 
with  a  beautiful  landscape  on  its  borders  :  all 
these  conspired  to  please  the  taste  and  genius 
of  Tiberius.  The  scene,  indeed,  has  lost  much 
of  its  beauty,  the  fiery  eruptions  of  Mount 
Vesuvius  fcj  having,  since  that  time,  changed 
the  face  of  the  country. 

If  ^Ve  may  believe  an   old  tradition,  a  co- 
lony froiB  Gr(;ece  was  formerly  settled  on  the 


27, 


OF    TACITtJS.  225 

positc  coast  of  Italy,  and  the  Teleboi  were    ^^^^ 
in  possession  of  the  isle  of  Capreiii.     Be  that  ^;['^J57c! 
as  it  may,  Tiberius  chose  for  his  residence    ^^^ 
twelve  different  villas  (dj,  all  magnificent  and 
well  fortified.     Tired  of  pnblic  business,   he 
now  resigned  himself  to  his  favourite  gratifi- 
cations,  amidst  his  solitary  vices  still  engen-* 
dering  mischief.     The    habit  of  nourishing 
dark  suspicions,    and  believing  every  whis- 
perer,  still  adhered  to  him.     At  Home  Se- 
janus  knew  how  to  practise  on  such  a  temper  ; 
but  in  this  retreat  he  governed  him  with  un- 
bounded influence.  Having  gained  the  ascen- 
dant, he  thought  it  time  to  fall  on  Agrippina 
and   her  son  Nero,  not,  as  heretofore,  with 
covered  malice,  but  with  open  and  avowed 
hostility.     He   gave  them   a  guard,   under 
colour  of  attending  their  persons,  but  in  fact 
to  be  spies  on  their  actions.     Every  circum- 
stance was  noted ;  their  public  and  their  private 
discourse,  their  messengers,  their  visitors,  all 
were  closely  watched,  and  a  journal  kept  of 
petty  occurrences.     The  agents  of  Scjanus, 
by  order  of  their  master,  advised  them  bptli 
to  fly  for   protection   to  the  German  array, 
or  to  take  sanctuary  under  the  statue  of  Au* 
gustus  in  the  public  forum,  and  there . implore 

VOL.    II.  Q 


226  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    the  protection  of  the  senate  and  the  peo- 
ple.    The  advice  Avas  rejected;   but  the  pro- 
780.^'  ject,  as  if  their  own,  and  ripe  for  excution, 


A.  U.  C 


A.D 


37.     was  imputed  to  them  as  a  crime. 
A.U.C.       LXVIII.     Junius  Silanus   and    Silius 

78  f 

A.D.     Nerva  were   the  next   consuls.      The    year 

28.  . 

began  with  a  transaction  of  tha  blackest  dye. 
Titius  Sabinusf«J,  a  Roman  knight  of  higli 
distinctioUjWas  seized  with  violence,  and  drag- 
ged to  prison.     His  steady  attachment  to  the 
house  of  Germanicus  was  his  only  crime.  After 
the  death  of  that  unfortunate  prince,  he  con- 
tinued firm  to  Agrippina  and  her  children :  at 
her  house  a  constant  visitor ;  in  public  a  sure 
attendant,  and,    of  the  whole  number   that 
formerly  paid  their  court,  the  only  friend  at 
last.     His  constancy  was  applauded  by  every 
honest  mind,    and  censured  by  the  vile  and 
profligate.     Four  men  of  praetorian  rank  en- 
tered into  a  conspiracy  to  work  his  ruin.  Their 
names  were  Latinius  Latiaris,  Porcius  Cato^ 
Petilius  Ilufus,  and  Marcus  Opsins.     They 
had  all  attained  the  praetorian  rank,  and  now 
aspired  to  the  consulship.     The  road  to  that 
dignity  they  knew  was  open  to  none  but  the 
creatures  of  Sejanus,  and  to  the  favour  of  that 
minister  guilt  was  the  only  recommendation. 


OF  TACITUS.  ^97 


V  ^v  I 


The  conspirators  settled  among  themselves,    book 
that  Latiaris,  who  had  some  connection  v/ith  "^^^T^ 

'  A    U.  C. 


Sabinus,  should  undertake  to  lay  the  snare, 
while  the  rest  lay  in  wait  for  evidence,  de- 
termined, as  soon  as  their  materials  were  col- 
lected, to  begin  their  scene  of  iniquity,  and 
stand  forth  as  witnesses. 

Latiaris  accordingly  made  his  approaches 
to  Sabinus  :  he  talked  at  first  on  trite  and 
common  topics,  artfully  making  a  transition 
to  the  fidelity  of  Sabinus,  v>'ho  did  not,  like 
others,  follow  the  fortunes  of  a  noble  house, 
while  fortune  smiled,  and,  in  the  hour  of  ad- 
versity, sound  his  retreat  with  the  rest  of  the 
sneakiu"'  train.  He  made  honourable  mention 
of  Germanicus,  and  spoke  of  Agrippina  in  pa- 
thetic terms.  Sabinus,  with  a  mind  enfeebled 
by  misfortunes,  and  now  softened  by  compas- 
sion, burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  To  emotions 
of  tenderness  resentment  succeeded.  He 
talked,  with  indignation,  of  the  cruelty  of 
Sejanus,  of  his  pride,  his  arrogance,  and  his 
daring  ambition.  The  emperor  himself  did 
not  escape.  From  this  time,  like  men  who 
had  unbosomed  their  secrets  to  each  other, 
Latiaris  and    Sabinus  joined  in  the  closest 

Q  2 


781. 

A.  D. 

28. 


IV. 


238  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  union.  They  cultivated  each  other's  friend- 
ship. Sabiniis  sought  the  company  of  his  new 
confederate  ;  he  frequented  his  house,  and 
without  reserve,  in  the  fullest  confidence  dis- 
closed his  inmost  thoughts. 


LXIX.  The  conspirators  held  it  neces- 
sary, that  the  conversation  of  Sabinus  should 
be  heard  by  more  than  one.  A  place  for  this 
purpose,  secure  and  solitary,  was  to  be  chosen. 
To  listen  behind  doors,  were  to  hazard  a  dis- 
covery ;  they  might  be  seen  or  overheard,  or 
some  trifling  accident  might  give  the  alarm. 
The  scene  of  action  at  lensjth  was  fixed. 
They  chose  the  cavity  between  the  roof  of 
the  house  and  the  ceiling  of  the  room.  In 
that  vile  hulking  hole,  with  an  execrable  de- 
sign, three  Roman  senators  lay  concealed, 
their  ears  applied  to  chinks  and  crannies, 
listening  to  conversation,  and  by  fraud  col- 
lecting evidence.  To  com.plete  this  plan  of 
iniquity,  Latiaris  met  Sabinus  in  the  street, 
and,  under  pretence  of  communicating  secret 
intelligence,  decoyed  him  to  the  house,  and 
to  the  very  room  where  the  infamous  eaves- 
droppei's  lay  in  ambush.  In  that  recess 
Latiaris  entered  into  conversation  ;  he  re- 
called past  grievances ;  he  stated  recent  cala- 


OF    TACITUS.  229 

mities,  and  opened  a  train  of  evils  still  to    book 
come.     Sabinus  went  over  the  same  ground,  ';^'^J^ 
more  animated  than  before,  and  more  in  the    ^^[; 
detail.     When  griefs,  Avhich  have  been  long     ^^■ 
pent  up,  once  find  a  vent,   men  love  to  dis- 
charge the  load  that  weighs  upon  the  heart. 
From  the  materials  thus  collected,   the  con- 
spirators drew  up  an  accusation  in  form,  and 
sent  it  to  the  emperor,  y\  ith  a  memorial,  to 
their  own  disgrace  and  infamy,   setting  forth 
the  whole  of  their  conduct.  Home  was  never 
at  any  period  so  distracted  with  anxiety  and 
terror.     ]\Ien  were  afraid  of  knowing  each 
other  ;    society  was   at  a  pause ;  relations, 
friends,  and    strangers,  stood   at    gaze ;  no 
public  meeting,  no  private  confidence ;  things 
inanimate  had  ears,  and  roofs  and  walls  were 
deemed  informers, 

LXX.  On  the  calends  of  January,  Tibe- 
rius dispatched  at  letter  to  the  Senate,  in 
which,  after  expressing,  as  usual  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  year,  his  prayers  and  vows  for 
the  commonwealth,  he  fell  with  severity  on 
Sabinus.  He  charged  him  with  a  plot  against 
his  sovereign,  and  with  corrupting,  for  that 
purpose,  several  of  the  imperial  freedmen. 
He  concluded  in  terms  neither  dark  noi'  am- 


230  THE  ANNALS 

BOOK  bi^uous,  demanclinoj  ven2;eance  on  the  offen- 
der.  Judgment  of  death  was  pronounced 
accordinsjlv-  Sabinus  fa)  was  seized,  and 
dragged  through  the  streets  to  immediate 
execution.  Muffied  in  his  robe,  his  voice 
jalmost  stifled,  he  presented  to  the  gazing 
multitude  a  tragic  spectacle.  He  cried  out 
with  what  power  of  utterance  lie  could, 
*'  Behold  the  bloody  opening  of  the  year! 
*'  With  victims  like  myself  Sejanus  must  be 
■'  o'lutted  !"  lie  continued  to  strnoole  and 
throw  his  eyes  around.  Wherever  he  looked, 
to  whatever  side  he  directed  his  voice,  the 
people  shrunk  back  dismayed ;  they  fled, 
they  disappeared  ;  the  public  places  and  the 
forum  were  abandoned  ;  the  streets  became 
a  desert.  In  their  confusion  some  returned 
to  the  same  spot,  as  if  willing  to  behold  the 
horrid  scene,  alarmed  for  themselves,  and 
dreading  the  crime  of  being  terrified. 

The  general  murmur  was,  *'  Will  there 
"  never  be  a  day  unpolluted  with  blood  ? — - 
"  Amidst  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  a  sea- 
"  son  sacred  to  religion,  when  all  business  is 
'*  at  a  stand,  and  the  use  of  profane  words  is 
"  by  law  prohibited,  we  hear  the  clank  of 
'■  chains  ;  we  see  the  halter,  and  the  murder 


OF    TACITUS.  231 

"  of  a  fellow-citizen.    The  innovation,  mon-   book 

"  strous  as  it  is,  is  a  deliberate  act,  the  policy  <— -v^^ 

'  ^        -^  A.  u.  c. 

"  of  Tiberius.     lie  means  to   make  cruelty    'sj- 

A.  D. 

*'  systematic.  By  this  unheard-of  outrage,  -'*• 
"  he  gives  public  notice  to  the  magistrates, 
**  that  on  the  first  day  of  the  year,  they  are 
''  to  open,  not  only  the  temples  and  the 
"  altars,  but  also  the  dungeons  and  the 
*'  charnel-house."  Tiberius,  in  a  short  time 
after,  sent  dispatches  to  the  senate,  com- 
mending the  zeal  of  the  fathers  in  bringing  to 
condign  punishment  an  enemy  of  the  state. 
He  added,  that  his  life  was  embittered  with 
anxiety,  and  the  secret  machinations  of  in- 
sidious enemies  kept  him  in  a  constant  alarm. 
Though  he  mentioned  no  one  by  name,  his 
malice  was  understood  to  glance  at  Nero  ancl 
Agrippina. 

LXXI.  The  plan  of  this  work  professes 
to  give  the  transactions  of  the  year  in  chro- 
nolooical  order.  If  that  rule  did  not  restrain 
me,  I  should  here  be  tempted  to  anticipate 
the  time,  and,  to  gratify  indignation,  relate 
the  vengeance  that  overtook  Latiaris  fa  J, 
Opsius,  and  the  other  actors  in  that  horrible 
tragedy.     vSome  of  them  were  reserved  for 


25^  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   the  reign  of  Caligula  ;  but,  even  in  the  pre- 
sent period,  the  sword   of  justice  was   not 
suffered  to  remain  inactive.     The  fact  was, 
Tiberius  made  it  a  rule  to  protect  his  instru- 
ments of  cruelty  ;  but  it  was  also  in  his  na- 
ture to  be  satiated  with  the  arts  of  flagitious 
men:  new  tools  of  corruption  listed  in   his 
service  ;  and  his  former  agents,  worn  out  in 
guilt,  neglected  and  despised,  were  cashiered 
at  once,  and  left  to  the  resentment  of  their 
enemies,      But  I  forbear ;    the  punishment 
that  befel  the    murderers   of  Sabinus,  and 
other  miscreants  equally  detestable,  shall  be 
seen  in  its  proper  place. 

The  emperor's  letter  above-mentioned  be- 
ing read  in   the  senate,  Asinius  Gallus  fhj, 
whose  sons  were  nephews  to  Agrippina,  moved 
an  address,  requesting  the  prince  to  reveal  his 
secret  disquietude,  that  the  wisdom  of  the  fa^ 
thers  might   remove  all  cause  of  complaint. 
Dissimulation  was  the  darling  practice  of  Ti- 
berius, and  he  placed  it  in  the  rank  of  virtues, 
Hating  detection,  and  jealous  of  prying  eyes, 
he  was  now  enraged  agajnst  the  man  who 
seemed  to  have  fathomed  his  latent  meaning, 
iSejanus  appeased  his  anger,  not  out  of  friend- 


OF  TACITUS.  233 

fehip  to  Galkis,  but  to  leave  Tiberius  to  the   ^oqk 
workings  of  bis  own  gloomy  temper.     The  '"^'^^ 
favourite  had  studied  the  genius  of  his  mas-    ^^*^- 
ter.     He   knew  that    he   could  think  with     '^^' 
phlegm,  slow  to  reslove,  yet  gathering  ran- 
cour, and,  in  the  end,  sure  to  break  out  with 
fiercer  vengeance. 

About  this  time  died  Julia  fcj,  the  grand- 
daughter of  Augustus,  during  that  prince's 
reign  convicted  of  adultery,  and  banished  to 
the  isle  of  Trimetus  fdj,  near  the  coast  of 
Apulia.  At  that  place  she  languished  in. 
exile  during  a  space  of  three-and-twenty 
years,  a  wretched  dependant  on  the  bounty 
of  Livia,  who  lirst  cut  off  the  grandsons  of 
Augustus,  in  their  day  of  splendor,  and  then 
made  a  shew  of  compassion  for  the  rest  of 
the  family,  who  were  suffered  to  survive  in 
misery, 

LXXII.  In  the  course  of  this  year  the 
Frisians,  a  people  dwelling  beyond  the  Rhine 
faj,  broke  out  into  open  acts  of  hostility. 
The  cause  of  the  insurrection  was  not  the 
restless  spirit  of  a  nation  impatient  of  the 
yoke  ;  they  were  driven  to  despair  by  Roman 
jivarice.    A  moderate  tribute,  such  as  suited 


534  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    the  poverty  of  the  people,   consisting  of  raw 
•..^y^^  hides  for  the  use  of  the  leiijions,  had  been  for- 

A.  U.  C.  .  O  ' 

781.     merly  imposed  by  Drusus  f/jj.     To  specify 
28.      the  exact  size  and  quality  of  the  hide  was  an 
idea  that  never  entered  into  the  head  of  any 
man,  till  Olennius,  the  first  centurion  of  a 
legion,  being  appointed  governor  over  the 
Frisians,  collected  a  quantity  of  the  hides  of 
forest  bulls  CcJ,  and  made  them  the  standard 
both  of  weight  and  dimension.    To  any  other 
nation  this  would  have  been  a  grievous  bur- 
then, but  was  altogether   impracticable  in 
Germany,  where  the  cattle,  running  wild  in 
large  tracts  of  forest,  are  of  prodigious  size, 
while  the  breed  for  domestic  uses  is  remark- 
ably small.     The  Frisians  groaned  under  this 
oppressive  demand.    They  gave  up  first  their 
cattle,  next  their  lands  ;  and  finally  were  ob- 
liged to  see  their  wives  and  children  carried 
into  slavery  by  way  of  commutation.  Discon- 
tent and  bitter  resentment  filled  the  breasts  of 
injured  men.     They  applied  for  redress,  but 
without  effect.   In  despair  they  took  up  arms, 
they  seized  the  tax-gatherers,  and  hung  them 
upon  gibbets.  Olennius  made  his  escape,  lie 
fled  for  refuge  to  a  castle  known  by  the  name 
of  FLEvuMfr/J,  at  that  time  garrisoned  by  a 
strong  party  of  Romans  and  auxiliaries,  wliQ 


OF  TACITUS.  235 

were   stationed   in   that  quarter  for  the  de-    book 
fence    of  the  country  bordering  on  the  Gor- 
man Ocean. 

LXXIII.  Intelligence  of  this  revolt 
no  sooner  reached  Lucius  Apronius,  at  that 
time  propnvtorof  the  Lower  Germany,  tlian 
he  drew  together  from  the  Upper  Rhine  a 
detachment  of  the  legionary  veterans,  with 
the  flower  of  the  alHed  horse  and  infantry. 
Ilavini>;  now  two  armies,  he  sailed  down  the 
Rhine,  and  made  a  descent  on  the  territory 
of  the  Frisians,  then  employed  in  a  close 
blockade  of  Fh'vum  castle.  To  defend  their 
country  against  the  invaders,  the  Barbarians 
thought  proper,  on  the  approach  of  the  Ro- 
mans, to  abandon  tlje  siege.  The  lestuaries  in 
that  countr}^  formed  by  the  influx  of  the  sea, 
are  a  grand  obstacle  to  military  operations. 
A[)ronius  ordered  bridges  to  be  prepared, 
and  causeways  to  be  thrown  over  the  marshes. 
Meanwhile,  the  fords  and  shallows  being  dis- 
covered, lie  sent  the  cavalry  of  the  Canine- 
fates  (a)  and  the  German  infantry  that  served 
under  him,  with  orders  to  pass  over,  and 
take  post  in  the  rear  of  the  eneni}'.  The 
Frisians,   drawn    up  in  order  of  battle,  gave 


236 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK  them  a  warm  reception.  The  whole  detach- 
ment,  with  the  legionary  horse  sent  to  sup- 
port the  ranks,  was  put  to  the  rout.  Apro- 
nius  dispatched  three  Hght  cohorts;  two 
more  followed,  and,  in  a  short  time,  the 
whole  cavalry  of  the  auxiliaries  ;  a  force  suf- 
ficient, had  they  made  one  joint  attack  ;  but 
coming  up  in  separate  divisions,  and  at  dif- 
ferent times,  they  were  neither  able  to  rally 
the  broken  ranks,  nor,  in  the  general  panic, 
to  make  head  against  the  enemy. 

In  this  distress,  Cethegus  Labeo,  who 
commanded  the  fifth  legion,  received  orders 
to  advance  with  the  remainder  of  the  allies. 
That  officer  soon  found  himself  pressed  on 
every  side .  He  sent  messenger  after  messenger 
to  call  forth  the  whole  strength  of  the  army. 
His  own  legion,  being  the  fifth,  rushed  for- 
ward to  his  assistance.  A  sharp  engagement 
followed.  The  Barbarians,  at  length,  gav^ 
ground;  and  the  auxiliary  cohorts,  faint 
with  fatigue,  and  disabled  by  their  wounds, 
were  rescued  from  the  sword  of  the  enemy. 
The  Roman  general  neither  pursued  the  fu- 
gitives, nor  staid  to  bury  the  slain,  though  a 
number  of  tribunes  and  officers  of  rank,  with 


OF   TACITUS.  ^37 


centurions  of  distinguished  bravery,  lay  dead    book 
on  the  field  of  battle.     By  deserters  intelli-  ^^v-^ 

-^  A.  U.  C. 

pence  was  afterwards  brought,  that  no  less  7^'- 
than  nine  hundred  Romans  were  surrounded  *^" 
in  the  forest  called  BaduhennaT^J,  and 
after  a  gallant  defence,  which  lasted  till  the 
dawn  of  day,  were  to  a  man  cut  to  pieces. 
Another  body,  consisting  of  no  less  than  four 
hundred,  threw  themselves  into  a  stron<:man- 
sion  belonging  to  Cruptorix,  a  German  chief, 
who  had  formerly  served  in  the  Roman 
army :  but  this  whole  party,  afraid  of  trea- 
chery, and  dreading  nothing  so  much  as 
being  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
turned  their  swords  against  each  other,  and 
perished  by  mutual  slaughter. 

LXXIV.  The  name  of  the  Frisians  was, 
by  consequence,  celebrated  throughout  Ger- 
many. Tiberius,  with  his  usual  closeness, 
endeavoured  to  conceal  the  loss,  aware  that 
a  war  would  call  for  a  new  commander,  and 
that  important  trust  he  was  unwilling  to 
commit  to  any  person  whatever.  As  to  the 
senate  ;  events  that  happened  on  the  remote 
frontiers  of  the  empire,  made  little  impres- 
sion on  that  assembly.    Domestic  grievances 

5 


238  THE    ANXALS 

BOOK    Avere  more  interestino- :  every-  man  trembled 

IV.  ^ 

for  himself,  and  flattery  was  his  only  re- 
source. Av^ith  this  spirit  tlie  fathers,  at  a 
time  when  matters  of  moment  demanded 
their  attention,  made  it  their  first  business 
to  decree  an  altar  to  Clemenc}-,  and  another 
to  Friendship  ;  both  to  be  decorated  with 
the  statues  of  Tiberius  and  Sejanus.  They 
voted,  at  the  same  time,  an  huml^le  address, 
requesting  that  the  prince  and  his  minister 
would  condescend  to  shew  themselves  to  the 
people  of  Rome.  Neither  of  tiiem  entered 
the  city,  nor  even  approached  the  suburbs. 
To  leave  their  island  on  a  saihng  party,  and 
exhibit  themselves  on  the  coast  of  Campania, 
was  a  sufficient  favour. 

To  enjoy  that  transient  view,  all  degrees 
and  orders  of  men,  the  senators,  the  Roman 
knights,  and  the  populace,  pressed  forward 
in  crowds.  The  favourite  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  all,  but  was  difficult  of  access.  To 
gain  admission  to  his  presence  was  the  work 
of  cabal,  intrigue,  or  connection  in  guilt. 
Sejanus  felt  his  natural  arrogance  inflamed 
and  pampered  by  a  scene  of  servility  so 
openly   displayed    before   him.     lie    saw   a 


OF    TACITUS.  239 

whole  people  crouching  in  bondage.  At  book 
Rome  the  infamy  was  not  so  visible.  In  a 
great  and  populous  city,  where  all  are  in  mo- 
tion, the  sycophant  may  creep  unnoticed  to 
pay  his  homage.  In  a  vast  conflux,  numbers 
are  constantly  passing  and  repassing ;  but 
their  business,  their  pursuits,  whence  they 
come,  and  whither  they  are  going,  no  man 
knows.  On  the  margin  of  the  sea  the  case 
was  different.  ^Vithout  distinction  of  rank, 
the  nobles  and  the  populace  lay  in  the  fields, 
or  on  the  shore,  humbly  waiting',  ni^jht  and 
day,  to  court  the  smiles  of  the  porter  at  the 
great  man's  gate,  or  to  bear  the  insolence  of 
slaves  in  office.  Even  that  importunity  was 
at  length  prohibited.  The  whole  herd  re- 
turned to  Rome ;  some,  who  had  been 
honoured  vrith  a  word  or  a  smile,  sinking 
into  the  lowest  dejection  of  spirits ;  others 
elate  with  joy,  for  they  had  seen  tlie  favourite, 
and  did  not  then  suspect  how  soon  that  fatal 
connection  was  to  overwhelm  them  all  in 
ruin. 

LXXV.  The  year  closed  with  the  mar- 
riage of  Agrippina  f  «J,  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Germanicus.     Tiberius  i^ave  her  away  in 


240  THE    ANNALS 


person  to  Cneius  Domitius  (b),  but  ordered 
the  nuptial  ceremony  to  be  performed  at 
Home.  Domitius  was  descended  from  a 
splendid  line  of  ancestors,  and,  besides,  allied 
to  the  house  of  C«sar.  He  was  the  grandson 
of  Octavia,  and  of  course  grand  nephew  to 
Augustus.  By  this  consideration  Tiberius 
was  determined  in  his  choice. 


THE 


ANNALS 


OF 


TACITUS. 


BOOK  V 


VOL.    II. 


R 


CONTENTS. 

BOOK   V. 

1.  THE  dcatli  and  character  of  the  empress  IJ-cia.  II. 
Tiberius  groics  more  oppressive  than  e-cer^  and  Sejanus 
rises  to  greater  pozccr.  III.  Tiberius^  bij  a  letter  to  the 
senate,  accuses  Jgrippina  and  her  son  Nero.  The  po- 
pulace in  a  tumultuous  maimer  surround  the  senate- 
house.  The  fathers  proceed  no  farther  in  the  business, 
Sejanus  incensed  against  their  conduct.  V.  Tiberius 
zorites  in  tin  angrtj  style  to  the  senate,  and  reserves  the 
affair  of  Agrippinu  for  his  own  judgment.  The  apologi/ 
of  the  senate. 

Ill  this  place  a  cliasm  of  near  three  years  :  the  supple- 
ment begins  with  the  section  marked  with  figures,  in- 
stead of  the  Roman  numeral  letters. 

1.  Designs  of  Sejanus  against  Agrippina  and  Nero. 
2.  Violent  prosecutions :  Tiberius  violent  against  all 
the  friends  of  his  mother.  3.  Tranquillity/  through  all 
the  Roman  provinces.  4.  Remarkable  letter  from  Ti- 
berius to  the  senate.  5.  Agrippina  and  Nero  voted 
public  enemies.  Both  lahcn  into  custodiy.  She  is  con- 
fined near  Ilcrculaneum.  A  centuiion  beats  out  her 
eye.  She  is  banished  to  Pandataria,  and  Nero  to  Poti- 
tia,  where  he  is  put  to  death.  Sejanus  plots  the  ruin 
of  Drusus,  the  second  son  of  Germanicus.  He  seduces 
/Emilia  Lepida  to  join  him  against  her  husband.  7. 
Drusus  made  a  prisoner  in  the  loioer  part  of  the  pa* 

R  2 


CONTENTS. BOOK  V. 

iace.      8.     Tiberius    begins    to    siispeet    Sejatnis,    lid 
amuses  him  Trith  warm  professions  of  friemhhip.     10, 
Popularitj/   of  Sejauus :  his  statues  erected  at  Rome : 
his  hirth-daij  celebrated.     1 J .    Vel/eius  Paterculus  the 
historian :    he  is  the  creature   of  Sejanus,    and  sul/ics 
his  historj/  with  adulation.     13.   Tiberius  suspects  Asi- 
nius    Gallus    and   Lentulus    Gaitulicus,   the   professed 
frietid  of  Sejanus.     The  stratagem  by  Trhich  Tiberius 
contrives  the  ruin  of  Asinius   Gallus.      15.   Sejanus  is 
loaded  with  honours  b?/ the  emperor:  Livia,  the  widoia 
of  Driisus,  given  to  him  in  marriage.      17.    Tiberius 
resolved   to    remove  Sejanus    to    Home,  and    for    that 
purpose  makes  him  joint  consul  with    himself.     Seja- 
nus males  his  entry  into  Rome,  and  is  received  with 
demonstrations  of  joy,      20.   TJie  cruelty   of   Sejanus. 
Death  of  Germinius  Rufus  and  Prisca  his  wife.     The 
consulship  extended  by  a  decree  to  a  term  offiveykars. 
22.    Tiberius  annuls  the  decree;  he  resigns  the  consul' 
ship,  and  makes  Sejanus   do  the  same.      23.     Sejanus 
wishes  to  return  to   the  isle  of  Caprece ;    Tiberius  ob- 
jects to  it,  and  says  he  means  to  visit  Rome.     24.   The 
young  Caligula    raised  to  the  honours  of   augur  and 
pontiff.      Sejanus  is  honoured  with  religious  zcorship  : 
Tiberius  forbids  such  impious  mockery  even  to  himself. 
26.  Sejanus  driven  almost  to  despair:  he  forms  a  con- 
spiracy, determined  at  all  events  to  seize   the  reins  of 
government.      Satrius  Secundus   betrays  kirn  to  Anto- 
nia,    the   sister-in-law   of   Tiberius.      Pallas,    then    a 
slave,    but    aftencards   the   favourite  of  the    emperor 
"^^  Claudius,  is  sent  by  Antonia   to  inform  against  Seja- 
nus.    28.    Bleasures   of   Tiberius    to   defeat   Sejanus, 
"Macro  sent  to  Rome  to  command  the  prcetorian  guards. 
Artful  proceedings   against   Sejanus.      Jiegulusy   the 


CONTENTS. BOOK  V. 

C07isid,  and  Laco,  captain  of  the  cily  cohorts^  join 
against  Sejanus,  and  take  him  into  cuslodj/  i '  the  se' 
nate-house.  33.  lie  is  dragged  to  prison;  insuUs  of 
the  populace;  his  death.  Decrees  of  the  senate  against 
his  memory.  35.  Honours  decreed  to  Macro  and 
L,aco,  bat  by  them  prudentl;/  rejected.  37.  Junius 
Blcesus,  uncle  to  Sejanus,  put  to  death  ;  as  also  the 
eldest  son  of  Sejanus.  ApicatUy  the  first  wife  of  Seja- 
7nis,  but  divorced  from  him,  discovers  the  particulars  of 
the  murder  of  Drusus  bi/  her  husband  and  the  younger 
Z,ivia,  and  then  puts  an  end  to  her  days.  38.  Death  of 
Livia,  by  order  of  Tiberius.  c»9.  His  opinion  of  Ca- 
ligula. 40.  Acts  of  cruelty  by  Tiberius  in  the  isle  of 
Caprece,  displayed  in  various  instances. 

4t3.  From  the  end  of  this  section  Tacitus  goes  on  to  the 
end  of  tlie  book. 

VI.  The  speech  of  an  illustrious  senator,  whose  name  is 
lost:  his  jortitude,  and  manner  of  dying.  VIII-  P. 
Vitellius  and  Pompo7iius  Secundus  accused,  but  not 
brought  to  trial.  ViieUAus  dies  broken-hearted.  Pom-- 
ponius  out-lives  Tiberius.  IX.  A  son  and  daughter 
of  Sejanus,  the  last  of  his  family,  put  to  death  by  or* 
der  of  the  senate.  X.  A  counterfeit  Drusus  m  Greece. 
The  impostor  detected  by  Poppauis  Sabinus.  XI.  Dis* 
sensions  between  the  two  consuls. 

These  transactions  include  three  years. 

Years         Of 
of  Rome — Christ,  Consuls. 

782  29  \  L.  Rubellius  Geminus,  C.  Fusius  Geminus, 

783  30  \  Marcus  Vinicius,  L.  Cassius  Longinus. 


CONTENTS. — BOOK  V. 

Years  of  Rome.    Of  Christ,  Consuls. 

_„-  01    ^  Tiberius   bih  time,    L.   JEUus  So 

^^^  ^^    ^        janus. 

Ahout  the  middle  of  '\ 
May  in  the  same    f  Cornelius  Sulla,    Sexteidius   Catul- 
y ear  for  three      ^         linus. 
months.  j 

Tram  the  middle  of  1 

Afgust  in  the      >  Memmiiis  Regulus,  Fukinius  Trio, 
sameyear.         j 


THE 


ANNALS 


OF 


TACITUS. 


BOOK  V. 


I-  JJURING  the  consulship  of  RubelHus  book 
Geininiis  and  Fusius  (aj,  who  bore  the  same 
^surname,  died,  in  an  advanced  old  age,  the 
emperor's  mother  Livia  (bj,  styled  Julia  Au- 
gusta. Illustrious  by  her  descent  from  the 
house  of  Claudius,  she  was  further  ennobled 
by  adoption  into  the  Livian  and  the  Julian 
families.  She  was  first  married  to  Tiberius 
Nerofrj,  and  by  him  was  the  mother  of  two 
sons.  Her  husband,  when  the  citv  of  Perusia 
was  obliged  to  surrender  to  the  arms  of  Au- 
gustus, made  his  escape,  and  wandered  from 
place  to  place,  till  the  peace  between  Sextus 
J?ompeius  and  the  triumvirate  restored  him 


248  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  to  his  country.  Enamoured  of  tlie  graceful 
form  and  beauty  of  Livia,  Augustus  obliged 
her  husband  to  resign  her  to  his  embraces. 
Whether  she  had  consented  to  the  change, 
is  uncertain  ;  but  the  passion  of  the  emperor 
was  so  ardent,  that,  without  waiting  till  she 
was  delivered  of  the  fruit  of  her  womb,  he 
conveyed  her,  pregnant  as  she  was,  to  his 
own  house.  By  this  second  marriai>;e  she 
had  no  issue  ;  but  Agrippina  and  Germani- 
cus  (dj  being  joined  in  wedlock,  Livia  be- 
came allied  to  the  house  of  Ca?sar,  and  the 
issue  of  that  match  were  the  common  sreat 
grand-children  of  Augustus  and  herself.  Her 
domestic  conduct  was  formed  on  the  model 
of  primitive  manners  ;  but  by  a  graceful  ease, 
unknown  to  her  sex  in  the  time  of  the  re- 
public, she  had  the  address  to  soften  the 
rigour  of  ancient  virtue.  A  wife  of  amiable 
manners,  yet  a  proud  and  imperious  mother, 
she  united  in  herself  the  opposite  qualities 
that  suited  the  specious  arts  of  Augustus, 
and  the  dark  dissimulation  of  her  son.  The 
rites  of  sepulture  (ej  Avere  performed  without 
pomp  or  magnificence,  iler  will  remained 
for  a  long  time  unexecuted.  Tlie  funeral 
oration  was  delivered  from   the  rostrnm  by 


OF   TACITUS.  249 

her  ^reat  grandson  Cains  C;£Stir,   afterwards    book 
Cali<j;ula,    tlie  emperor. 

II.  Tiberius  did  not  attend  to  pay  the 
last  melancholy  duties  to  his  mother.     He 
continued  to    riot  in  vokiptuons  pleasures, 
but  the  weight  of  business  was  his  apology 
to  the  senate.     PubHc   honours  w^ere,   with 
great   profusion,    decreed   to    her   memory: 
Tiberius,  under  the  mask  of  moderation,  re- 
trenclied  the  greatest  pd.rtfaj,  expressly  for- 
bidding the  forms  of  religious  worship.     On 
that  point  he  knew  the  sentiments  of  his  mo- 
ther;  it  was  her  desire  not  to  be  deified.    In 
the  same  letter  that  conveyed  his  directions 
to  the  senate,  he  passed  a  censure  on  the 
levity  of  female  friendsliip  ;  by  that  remark 
obliquely  glancing  at  Fusius  the  consul,  wlio 
owed  his  elevation  to  the  partiality  of  Livia. 
The  fact  was,   Fusius   had  brilliant  talents. 
He  possessed,   in  an  eminent  degree,  the  art 
of  recommending  himself  to  the  softer  sex. 
His  conversation  sparkled  Avith  wit.     In  his 
lively  sallies  he  did    not  spare  even  Tibe- 
rius himself,  forgetting  that  tlie  raillery  which 
plays  with   the  foililes   of  the  great,  is  long 
remembered,  and  seldom  forgiven. 


250  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK        III,  From  this    time  may  be  dated    the 
^^^'^  jKra  of  a  furious,  headlons;,  and  despotic  iro- 

A.  U.  C.  '  ^'  ^  ^ 

782^     vernmeut.     The  ra^e   of  Tiberius  knew  no 
^-      bounds.     While  his  mother   Uved,  his  pas- 
sions   were    rebuked,    and    in    some    deiiree 
controuled.     lie  had  been   from  his  infancy 
in  the  liabit  of  submittin:^;  to  her  iudiiment; 
and  to  counteract   her  autlioritv  was  more 
than  Sejanus    dared  to    unciertake.     By  the 
deatli  of   Livia   ail  restraint  was  thrown  off. 
Tlie  prince   and  his  minister  broke  out  witli 
unbridled  fury.     A  letter  was  dispatched  to 
the   senate,   in   bitter  terms    arrai^nino*  the 
conduct    of  Aiirippina   arid    her   son    Nero. 
The  charge   was  generally  supposed   to  have 
been  framed,   and  even  forwarded  to  Rome, 
during   tlie    life    of   liivia,   but,   by  her   in- 
fluence, for  that  time  suppressed.     The  vio- 
k^nce  of  the  proceeding,   so   soon  after  her 
death,   gave   rise  to   the  opinion  entertained 
by  the  populace.     The  letter  was  conceived 
in  a    style   of  exquisite  malice,   containing, 
however,    against  the   grandson  no  imputa- 
tion   of  treason,  no  plot  to  levy  war  against 
tlie  state.     The  crimes  objected  to  him  were 
unlawful  pleasures,  and  a  life  of  riot  and  de- 
luiuclicry.     Agrippina's  character  was  prooif 


OF    TACITUS.  251 


V. 


against  the  shafts  of  malice.     Her  haughty    book 
carriage   and  unconquerable   pride  were  the 
only  allegations  that  could  be  urged  against 
her.     The  fathers  sat  in  profound  silence, 
covered  with  astonishment.     At  length  that 
class   of  men,  who    by  fair   and   honourable 
means   had  notliing  to  hope,  seized  the  op- 
portunity to  convert   to    their  own  private 
advanta<jje    the   troubles  and  misfortimes   of 
their  countr\^     A   motion  was    made   that 
the   contents  of  the  letter  shoidd  be   taken 
into   consideration.     Cotta  IMessahnus  (aj, 
the  most  forward  of  the   party,  a  man  ever 
ready  to  join  in  any  profligate  vote,  second- 
ed the  motion  ;  but  the  leading  members  of 
the  senate,  particularly  the  magi^tratt^s,   re- 
mained   in   a  state  of  doubt  and  perplexity. 
They   saw  no    ground   for   proceeding   in  a 
business  of  so  hi(j\\  a  nature,  communicated 
indeed  with   acrimony,   but  wanting   preci- 
sion, and  ending  abruptly,  without  any  clear 
or  defmite  purpose. 

IV .  Junius  Rusticus,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  emperor  to  register  fa)  the 
acts  of  the  fathers,  was,  at  that  time,  present 
jn  the  assembly.      From  the  nature  of  his 


Oq2  the  annals 

BOOK  einpIo3^ment  he  was  supposed  to  be  in  the  se- 
-.^^-^  crets  of  his  master.  He  rose  on  a  sudden,  un- 
%82.^'  der  the  impulse  of  some  emotion  unfelt  before : 
29.'  magnanimity  it  was  not,  since  he  had  never, 
upon  any  occasion,  discovered  one  generous 
sentiment :  perhaps  he  v/us  deceived  by  his 
own  political  speculations,  in  the  hurry  of  a 
confused  and  tumultuous  judgment  aircici- 
pating  future  mischief,  but  not  attendin,:;;  to 
tlie  combination  of  circumstances,  that  forni- 
ed  the  present  crisis.  Whatever  might  ;.. 
liis  motive,  this  man  joined  the  moderate 
party,  and  advised  the  consul  to  adjourn  the 
debate.  He  observed,  that,  in  affairs  of  the 
greatest  moment,  the  slightest  cause  often 
produces  event's  altogether  new  and  unex- 
pected. Grant  an  interval  of  time,  and  the 
passions  of  a  superannuated  emperor  may 
relent.  The  populace,  in  the  mean  time, 
bearing  aloft  the  im-ages  of  Nero  and  Agrip- 
pina,  surrounded  the  senate-house.  They 
offered  up  their  prayers  for  the  safety  of  the 
emperor,  and  witli  one  voice  pronounced 
the  letter  a  wicked  forgery,  fabricated  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  Tiberius;  a  black 
contrivance  to  ruin  the  imperial  family.  The 
senate  came  to  no  resolution. 
5 


OF   TACITUS.  233 

When  tlie  assembly  was  adjourned,  a  eook 
number  of  fictitious  speeches,  purporting  to 
have  been  dehvered  hy  consular  senators, 
in  a  strain  of  bitter  invective  against  Se- 
janu.s,  were  immediately  written,  and  dis- 
persed among  tlie  people.  In  those  pro- 
ductions, the  several  authors,  unknown  and 
safe  in  their  obscurity,  gave  free  scope  to  their 
talents,  and  poured  forth  their  virulence 
with  unbounded  freedom.  The  artifice  serv- 
ed to  exasperate  the  minister.  ,  He  charged 
the  fathers  with  disaffection;  "  they  paid 
'  no  attention  to  the  remonstrances  of  the 
'  prince :  the  people  v/ere  ripe  for  tumult 
'  and  insurrections.  A  new  council  of  state 
'  was  set  up,  and  the  decrees  of  that  mock 
'  assembly  were  published  with  an  air  of 
'  authoritv.  Wliat  now  remains  for  the  dis- 
'  contented  but  to  unsheatli  the  svv'ord,  and 
*  choose  for  their  leaders,  and  even  proclaim 
'  as  emperors,  the  very  persons  whose  images 
'  had  been  displayed  as  tlie  banners  of  se- 
'  dition  and  revolt  ?" 

V.  Tiberius  was  fired  with  i?]dignation. 
He  renewed  his  complaints  against  Agrippina 
and  her  son,  and,  in  a  proclamation,  repri- 


254  THE    ANNALS    OF   TACITUS, 

BOOK  mamled  the  licentious  spirit  of  the  populace. 
He  complained  to  the  fathers  in  terms  of 
keen  reproach,  that  the  authority  of  the 
prince  was  eluded,  and,  by  the  artifice  of  a 
single  senator,  despised  and  set  at  nought. 
lie  desired  that  the  whole  business,  unpre- 
judiced by  their  proceedings,  should  be  re- 
served for  his  own  decision.  The  fathers, 
without  further  debate,  sent  dispatches  to 
the  emperor,  assuring  him,  that,  though  they 
had  not  pronounced  final  judgment  ;  having 
no  commission  for  that  purpose,  they  were, 
notwithstanding,  ready  to  prove  their  zeal, 
and  Mould  have  inflicted  a  capital  punish- 
ment, if  the  prince  himself  had  not  abridged 
their  authority. 


supple:\ient  (uj. 


\ .  THE  fathers,  at  all  times  pliant  and    book 
obsequious,  were,  in  this  juncture,  more  will-  ^^.-v^ 

1  11111  A.U  C- 

mo'  than  ever  to  debase  themselves  by  every  "«-'- 
act  of  mean  servility.  Scjanus  knew  the  in-  -»• 
most  secrets  of  the  prince,  and  the  deep  re- 
sentments that  lay  concealed,  and  nourished 
venom  in  his  heart.  Sure  of  a  complying 
senate,  he  grew  more  aspiring,  yet  not  bold 
enough  to  strike  the  decisive  blow.  His 
streni>;th  had  hitherto  lain  in  fraud  and  co- 
vert  stratagem,  and,  having  made  an  expe- 
riment of  his  talents,  he  resolved  to  proceed 
by  the  same  insidious  arts.  Agrippina  con- 
tinued, with  unal)ating  spirit,  to  counteract 
liis  designs  ;  and  her  two  sons,  Nero  and 
Drusus,  stood  fair  in  the  line  of  succession 
to  the  imperial  dignity.  The  ambition  of 
the  minister  required  that  all  three  should 
be  removed.  He  began  with  Nero  and  Agrip- 
pina, well  assured,  that,  after  their  destruc- 
tion, the  impetuous  temper  of  Drusus  would 
lay  liim  open  to  the  assault.^  of  his  enemies. 


2jS  supplement, 

9.  Rome,  in  the  mean  time,  knew  no  pause 
from  the  rage  of  prosecutions.  During  the  life 
of  Li  via.  Tiberius  felt  some  restraint  ;  but, 
that  check  removed,  he  now  broke  out  with 
redoubled  fury.     The  most  intimate  friends 
of  his  mother  (aj,  particularly  those  to  whom 
she  had  recommended  the  care  of  her  funeral, 
were  devoted  to  destruction.  In  that  number 
a  man  of  equestrian  rank,  and  of  a  distinguish- 
ed character,  was  singled  out  from  the  rest, 
and  condemned  to  the  hard  labour  of  drawing 
water  (bj  in  a  crane.     By  the  disgrace  of  an 
infamous  punishment,  the  tyrant  meant  to 
spread  a  general  terror.    The  cruelty  of  Se- 
janus  kept  pace  with  the  exterminating  fury 
of  his  master.  His  pride  was  wounded  by  the 
freedom  with  which  the  public  spoke  of  his 
ambitious  views.  A  band  of  informers  was  let 
loose,  and  by  that  hireling  crew  a  civil  war  was 
Avaged  against  the  first  men  in  Rome.    Spies 
were  stationed  iii  every  quarter  ;  the  mirth  of 
the  gay,  the  sorrows  of  the  wretched,  the 
joke  of  iimocent  sinq)licity  fcj,  and  the  wild 
rambling  talk  of  men  in  liquor,  served  to 
swell  the  list  of  constructive  crimes.  Nothing 
was  safe ;  no  place  secure  ;  informers  spread 
terror  and  desolation  tlirough  the  city,  and  all 
ranks  were  swept  away  in  one  conxinon  ruin. 


782. 

A.  D. 

29. 


SUPPLEMENT.  257 

S.  While  by  these  acts  of  oppression  book 
Rome  was  made  a  scene  of  ruin  and  dismay,  ^f^ 
every  other  part  of  the  empire  enjoyed  the 
most  fa  J  perfect  tranquiUity .  It  was  the  wish 
of  Tiberius  to  have  no  war  upon  his  hands, 
and  with  that  view,  it  was  his  pohcy  to  let 
the  provinces  feel  the  mildness  of  his  govern- 
ment. He  rewarded  merit,  but  with  a  spar- 
ing hand  ;  to  guilt  he  shewed  himself  hi- 
exorable  ;  the  delinquent  in  a  post  of  trust  was 
sure  to  be  punished  with  unremitting  severity. 
He  dreaded  superior  merit ;  and  though  at 
Rome  virtue  was  a  crime,  in  the  provinces  he 
forgave  it.  To  his  choice  of  general  officers 
and  foreign  magistrates,  no  objection  could  be 
made  ;  they  were  men  of  integrity,  though 
seldom  of  distinguished  talents.  The  jea- 
lousy of  his  nature  would  not  allow  him  to 
employ  the  most  eminent  characters  :  and 
from  mediocrity,  though  he  could  not  hope 
for  glory,  he  expected  to  derive  the  undis- 
turbed tranquillity  of  his  reign. 

4.  Marcus  Vinicius  and  Lucius  Cassius  a.  u.  a 
Longinus  were  the  next  consuls  frt  J.    By  the     ad. 
management  of  Tiberius,   things  were  now 
brought  to   the  crisis,  which  in  his  heaft  he 

VOL.    II.  s 


i  I 


ti 


258  SUPPLEMENT, 

BOOK  Iiad  lons[  desired.  The  fathers  had  avowed 
their  intention  to  pass  a  decree  against  Nero 
and  Agrippina;  but  tlie  clemency  of  the 
prince  was  supposed  to  hold  that  assembly  in 
suspense.  Tiberius,  however,  no  longer  hesi- 
tated .  vSeJanus  represented  to  him  the  danger 
of  irrcsolntion  or  delay.  The  time,  he  said, 
called  for  sudden  exertion.  ''  The  guilty  had 
"  thrown  off  the  mask,  and  from  seditious 
''  discourses,  proceeded  to  acts  of  open  re- 
"  bellion.  Tlie  very  senate  began  to  waver ; 
private  views  seduced  them  from  their 
duty  ;  the  integrity  of  that  body  was  no 
"  louiier  cerliiin.  The  soldiers  tlueatened  a 
^*  revolt,  and  Nero  was  already  considered  as 
''  the  hea.d  of  the  empire.  Tiberius,  indeed, 
'' reipned  auiidst  the  rocks  of  Caprea? ;  but 
* '  Agrippina  and  her  son  gave  the  law  atRome.'* 
IntVamed  by  this  reasoning,  Tiberius  sent  a 
letter  to  the  fathers,  in  substance  declaring 
*'  that  his  mindwcts  on  the  rack,  and  various 
''  apprehensions,  like  an  inward  lire  fZ^y,  con- 
''  sumed  his  peace.  He  knew  by  certain  intel- 
"  licence,  that  Nero  and  Agrippina  had  form- 
"  ed  a  dangerous  league  ;  and  the  storm,  if 
"  not  prevented,  woidd  ere  long  burst  in 
"  luin  on  tlicir  heads." 


SUPPLEMENT. 


259 


5.  The  senate  met  in  consternation.  After    ^^^^ 
a  short  debate,   Agrippina  and  her  son  Nero  ^^^f^ 
were  declared  pubUc  enemies.     This  vote  no     ps. 

I  A.  D. 

sooner  reached  the  ear  of  Tiberius,  than  he  ^'^• 
sent  orders  to  a  party  of  the  pra3torian  guards 
to  take  them  both  into  custody.  The  un- 
happy prisoners  were  loaded  with  fetters,  and 
conveyed  from  place  to  place  (^aj  in  a  close 
litter,  which  not  a  ray  of  light  could  penetrate. 
In  this  manner  they  proceeded  towards  the 
coast  of  Campania.  A  band  of  soldiers  guard- 
ed them  in  their  progress  through  the  country. 
The  crowd  was  every  where  kept  at  a  dis- 
tance, and  the  eye  of  compassion  no  where 
suffered  to  behold  their  misery.  Agrippina 
was  detained,  for  some  time,  in  a  castle  near 
lierculaneum  (hj,  on  the  margin  of  the  sea; 
while  Tiberius  from  his  island  beheld,  witlr 
maliganut  joy,  the  place  where  his  state- 
prisoner  pined  in  bitterness  of  heart.  But 
even  that  distressful  situation  could  not  sub- 
due the  sph'it  of  Agrippina.  She  did  not  for- 
<'-et  that  she  was  the  grand-daughter  of  Au- 
oustus,  and  the  widow  of  Germanicus.  Burn- 
in<>-  with  resentment,  and  by  every  insult  fired 
with  indignation,  she  launched  out  with  vehe- 
mence  against  the  savage  cruelty  of  the  em- 

s  9 


260  SUPPLEMENT. 

peror.  The  centurion,  who  guarded  iier  per** 
son,  had  his  private  orders  ;  and  the  ferocity 
of  his  nature  made  him  rfeady  to  obey.  With 
brutal  violence  he  raised  his  liand,  and  at  a 
blow  struck  fc)  out  one  of  her  eyes.  She 
wished  for  the  hand  of  death  to  deliver  her 
from  the  ra^e  of  her  enemies.  She  resolved 
to  die  by  abstinence ;  but  even  that  last  re- 
source of  the  wretched  was  denied  to  her.  Her 
mouth  fdj  was  opened  against  her  will,  and 
victuals  were  forced  down  her  throat,  in  order 
to  protract  a  life  of  misery.  Such  was  the 
deep  and  studied  malice  of  Tiberius  :  he  de- 
stroyed numbers  in  his  fury,  and  at  times, 
with  deliberate  malice,  refused  to  let  others 
die  in  peace  f^^.  He  kept  them  imprisoned 
in  life,  and  made  even  his  mercy  the  severest 
vengeance.  To  see  those  whom  he  hated  in 
his  heart,  streched  on  the  torture  of  the  mind, 
invoking  death,  yet  forced  to  linger  in  slow- 
consimiing  pain,  was  the  delight  of  that  im- 
placable, that  obdurate  mind.  With  that 
envenomed  malignity  he  chose  to  extend  the 
life  of  Agrippina.  She  was  removed,  under 
the  care  of  a  centurion,  to  the  isle  of  Pan- 
dataria,  where  Julia,  her  unfortunate  mother, 
closed  her  life  in  the  last  stage  of  wretched- 


SUPPLEMEXT.  261 

ncss.  By  confining  the  daughter  in  the  same    book 

V. 

place,  he  hoped,  by  a  subtle  stroke  of  malice, 
to  load  Jier  with  the  imputation  of  shnilar 
vices,  and  thereby  blacken  a  character  which 
he  saw  was  purity  itself.  Agrippina  perceiv- 
ed the  drift  of  his  inhuman  policy,  and,  no 
doubt,  felt  it  with  anguish  of  heart.  How 
she  endured  the  barbarity  of  lier  enemies  for 
three  }^ears  afterwards,  we  have  now  no  means 
of  knowino".  Her  death  will  be  mentioned 
in  due  time  and  place  (f). 

Nero  was  banished  to  the  Isle  (g)  of 
Pontia,  not  far  from  Pandataria.  About  a 
year  afterwards,  the  news  of  his  death  arrived 
at  Rome,  and  spread  a  general  face  of  mourn- 
ing through  the  city.  The  current  report 
was,  that  a  centurion,  sent  by  Tiberius,  pass- 
ed himself  for  an  officer,  commissioned  by 
the  senate  to  see  immediate  execution  per- 
formed. This  man  displayed  to  view  his  in- 
struments of  death,  and  the  young  prince, 
terrified  at  the  sight,  put  an  end  to  his  life. 
It  is  said,  that,  of  the  three  sons  of  Germani- 
cus,  he  was  the  only  one,  who  by  his  graceful 
figure,  and  the  elegance  of  his  manners,  re- 
called to  the  memory  of  men  an  image  of 
his  father. 


252 


SUPPLEMENT. 

6.    Dhusus    and  Caius  (siirnamed   Cali- 
gula),   as  soon  as  their  brother  Nero    was 
banished,  were  considered  by  Sejanus  as  the 
two  remaining  props  of  the  empire.     Drusus 
stood  nearest  to  the  succession,  and  for  that 
reason  was  the  most  obnoxious.  Seduced  by 
the  arts  of  Sejanus,  and  further  incited  by 
his  own  inordinate  ambition,  that  unhappy 
prince  had  joined  in  the  conspiracy  against 
his   brother   Nero  ;    but  what   he    thought 
would   contribute  to  hi??  elevation,  became 
the  fatal  cause  of  his  ruin.     He  had  been  at 
an   early  [period  of  his    life    contracted    to 
Otho's  (a J  daughter,  who  was  then  of  tender 
years ;  but,  without  regarding  that  engage- 
ment, he   married    iEmiHa    Lepida  (bj,    a 
woman  of  illustrious  birth,  but  fatally  bpnt 
on  mischief,  and,  by  her  pernicious  talents, 
able  to  execute  the  worst  designs.     Sejanu^ 
saw  the  use  to  be  made  of  such  a  character. 
He  had  chosen  Livia  for  his  instrument  to 
cut  off  Drusus,  the  son  of  Tiberius  ;  and  he 
now  resolved,  by  the  same  execrable  means, 
to  destroy  the   son  of  Germanicus.     AVith 
this  design,  the  grand  corrupter  in  a  short 
time  gained  the  affections  of  the  wife.     In 
the  course  of  hjs  adulterous  commerce,  he 
instilled   into  her  heart  his  own  pernicious 


SUPPLEMENT. 


263 


7sr.. 

A.  D. 
30. 


venom,  and  rendered  iier  tlie  implacable  book 
enemy  of  her  husband,  lie  promised  to  join  "^^"^ 
her  in  the  nuptial  union,  and  with  ideas  of 
future  iirandeur  so  dazzled  her  imai2;ination, 
that  she  undertook  the  detestable  task  of 
carrying  to  the  ear  of  the  emperor  an  accu- 
sation ai>:ainst  her  husband,  who  was  then 
attending'  the  court  in  the  Isle  of  Ca])rea.\ 

Instructed  by  her  seducer,  and  urged  on 
by  the  ardour  of  her  own  libidinous  passions, 
she  alarmed  Tiberius  every  day  with  some 
new  allegation  ;  she  renewed,  with  studied 
artifice,  all  that  had  been  imputed  to  Nero 
and  Agrippina,  and  in  their  guilt,  with  af- 
fected reluctance,  involved  Drusus  as  an 
accomplice.  She  pretended,  at  the  same 
lime,  to  plead  in  his  behalf.  His  crimes, 
bhe  hoped,  would  admit  of  some  extenua- 
tion :  but  her  apology  served  only  to_  enve- 
nom the  charge.  The  emperor  consulted 
with  his  minister.  That  artful  politician  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  young  prince  ;  he  af- 
fected to  disbelieve  all  that  was  alleged :  but 
the  proofs  in  time  were  too  strong  to  be  resist- 
ed ;  he  yielded  to  the  force  of  truth,  still  at- 
tempting to  palliate,  but  by  feeble  excuses 
making  the  whole  appear  still  more  atrocious. 


2G4  SUPPLEMENT. 

7.  Drusus,  unheard  and  undefended,  re- 
ceived orders  to  depart  forthwith  from  the 
Isle  of  Capreae.     He  arrived  at  Rome,  but 
not  to  live  there  in  a  state  of  security.     He 
was  pursued  by  the  machinations  of  Sejanus. 
That  artful  and  intriguing  minister  prevailed 
on    Cassius  Longinus  (a),  the  consul,  to  ar- 
raign the  character  and  conduct  of  the  young 
prince,    before    the  assembly  of  the  fathers. 
Though  high  in   office,  this  man  was   base 
enough   to    forget   his  ow^i  dignity,  and  be- 
come the  infamous  tool  of  a  vile  and  design- 
ing favourite.      He   stated    to    the   senate, 
*'  that  the  young  prince,  exasperated  by  his 
*'  late    disgrace,  was    pursuing  violent  mea- 
'*  sures  ;  and,  in  order  to  cause  a  sudden  re- 
*^  volution,  was  every  day  endeavouring  by 
''  intrigue,  by  cabal,  and  popular  arts,  to  in- 
'*  crease  the  number  of  his  partisans."    These 
allegations  were,  in  fact,  suborned  by  Sejanus  : 
but  the  fathers  were  persuaded  that  the  whole 
business  originated  with  the  emperor.  A  vote 
was  accordingly  passed,  declaring  Drusus  an 
enemy  to  the  state.      This  proceeding  was 
no  sooner  reported  to  Tiberius,  than  he  stood 
astonished  at  the  measure,  but  his  animosity 
to  the  house  of  Germanicus  was  not  to  be 
appeased.     He  gave  orders,  by  letter  to  the 


A.  U.  C. 

783. 
A.D. 


SUPPLEMENT.  265 

senate,  that  liis  grandson  should  be  confined    book 
a  close  prisoner  in  the  lower  part  (bj  of  the 
palace,   with  a  constant  guard  over  him,  to  "'733 
watch  his  motions,  to  note  his  words,  and      m 
keep  a  register  of  every  circumstance,  to  be 
in  time  transmitted  to  Capreae,  for  his  private 
inspection.       In    that    wretched    condition, 
Drusus  was  left  to  pine  in  misery,  till,  about 
three  years  afterwards,  as  will  be  mentioned 
in  its  place  (c),  he  closed  his  dismal  tragedy. 

8.  Tiberius  saw,  with  iav/ard  satisfaction, 
the  family  of  Germanic  us  well  nigh  extin- 
guished. The  measures  by  which  their  ruin 
had  been  accomplished,  gratified  the  malice 
of  his  heart :  but  what  motive  induced  Sejanus 
to  be  so  active  in  the  business,  w^s  a  pro- 
blem, which  all  his  penetration  was  not  able 
to  solve.  Did  the  minister  mean  to  gratify 
the  wishes  of  his  sovereign  ?  or  was  his  own 
private  ambition  at  the  bottom?  Tiberius 
was  thrown  into  a  state  of  perplexity.  His 
jealousy  took  the  alarm.  From  that  moment 
he  resolved  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  (a J  on 
the  conduct  of  the  minister.  His  keen  dis- 
cernment and  systematic  dissimulation  Avere, 
perhaps,  never  so  remarkable  in  any  period 
of  his  life,     He  began  to  nourish  suspicion  ; 


30. 


266  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK    anci,  in  a  mind  like  his,  suspicion  av as  sure 

V. 

o^v^-^  never  to  work  in  vain.    In  the  memoirs  ( /?j  of 

A.  V.  c. 

-*«      his  own  life,  which  were  found  after  his  deaths 

A.  D.  '  ^ 

it  appears  that  the  first  cause,   that  brought 
on  the  ruin  of  the  favourite,  was  his  eagerness  .| 
to  destroy  the  sons  of  Germanicus. 

9.  Meanwhile,  Sejanus  grew  intoxicated 
with  his  good  fortune  :  he    saw  the  imperial 
dignity  totterin"-  on    the  head    of  an  ai>;ed 
prince,  and  not  likely  to  be  better  supported 
by  Caligula,  a  young  man  as  yet  unequal  to  ' 
the  cares  pf  empire.      He  thought  himself 
near  the    summit  of  his  ambition  :  but  to 
ensure  success,  he  resolved  to  plan  his  mea- 
.sures  with  care  and  circumspection.     He  ad- 
dressed the  prince  in  the  style  of  a  man,  who  I 
iiad  no  private  views,  no  motive  but  the  in- 
terest of  his  sovereiiifn.     Tibtrius  knew  that 
his  professions  were   false  and  hollow.     He 
resohed,  however,  to  retaliate  with  the  same  I 
insidious  arts.     He   called  Sejanus  his  best  " 
jnend  :   the  fiithful  minister,  by  whose  vigi- 
lance the  public  peace  was  secured,  and  the 
glory  of   the  empire  fgj  maintained  in   its 
iui^liest  lustre.     Not  content  with  bestowmg 
on  him  the  warmest  commendations,  he  add-    . 
t-d  that  the  man,  who  rendered  such  eminent 


SUPPLEMENT.  267 

services  to  the  state,  oiiobt  to  be,  at  least,  the    book 
second  in  rank  and  dii>;nitv. 

10.  The  minister,  in  consequence  of  this 
exaggerated  praise,  })ecanic  the  idol  of  the 
people.  The  fathers  passed  several  votes  in 
his  favour,  and  sent  their  deputies  to  the 
Isle  of  Caprca:,  with  addresses  of  congratula- 
tion (a).  In  the  forum,  in  the  temples,  and 
in  private  houses,  statues  were  erected  to  Se- 
janus.  His  ])irth-day  was  celebrated  with 
religious  ceremonies.  The  altars  smoked 
with  incense,  and  the  city  resounded  with 
Iiis  praise.  Men  swore  by  the  fortune  of  Ti- 
berius and  his  faithful  friend.  Sejanus  shared 
in  all  public  honours  with  the  emperor.  Ap- 
plauded by  the  senate,  and  adored  by  the 
multitude,  he  was  now  scarce  inferior  to  his 
master. 

11.  It  was  in  this  juncture  that  Velleius 
Paterculus  (a)  published  his  Epitome  of  Ro- 
man Affairs,  from  tlie  foundation  of  the  city 
down  to  his  own  times.  The  work  is  de- 
dicated to  Vinicius,  one  of  the  consuls  for  the 
year.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  writer  of  so 
line  a  genius  was  thrown  on  that  evil  period, 


*26H  supplement. 

BOOK  ill  which  the  Romans,  fonnei  ly  fierce  with  all 
tlie  pride,  and,  perhaps,  the  excess  of  Hberty, 
were  fallen  into  tlie  opposite  extreme  of  ab- 
ject slavery.  The  spirit  of  adnlation  debased 
thel:iuman  character.  This  elegant  author 
cauaht  the  infection  of  the  times.  He  saw 
the  senators,  men  of  consular  rank,  the 
most  illustrious  of  the  Roman  knights,  and, 
in  short,  a  whole  jx^ople,  prostrate  at  the 
feet  of  Tiberius  and  his  favourite.  He  was  | 
carried  away  by  the  current,  and  hence  we 
iind  him  representing  the  Roman  glory,  that 
work  of  ages,  and  that  toil  of  patriots,  war- 
riors, and  legislators,  resting  at  length  upon 
an  emperor,  who  lived  in  voluntary  exile, 
and  a  minister,  who  had  all  the  vices,  with- 
out the  talents,  of  his  master.  The  pane- 
gyric bestowed  upon  two  such  characters 
has  survived  the  wreck  of  time ;  but  it  has 
survived,  to  be  the  disgrace  of  the  author  ; 
a  monument  of  venal  praise  and  servile  flat- 
tery. The  beauty  of  the  composition,  and 
the  graces  of  the  style,  are  the  Avork  of  a 
rhetorician,  in  whose  hands  history  forgot 
her  genuine  character,  and  truth  has  been 
degraded.  Paterculus  stands  at  the  head  of 
ihose,  who  have  been  willing  to  list  in  the 
11 


SUPPLEMENT.  269 

service  of  corruption  ;  and,  tlioimh  the  taste    book 

^  v. 

of  the  writer  will  not  easily  find  a  rival,  the 

abject  spirit  of  the  man  will  be  sure  of  hav- 
ing, in  every  age  and  country,  a  herd  of 
imitators,  as  long  as  the  leaders  of  party  and 
taction  shall  wisli  to  see  their  ambition  dis- 
guised, and  their  vices  decorated  with  the 
colours  and  the  garb  of  virtue. 

12.  That  Patcrculus  threw  a  temporary 
lustre  round  the  name  of  his  patron,  there 
can  be  no  room  to  doubt,  since  the  varnish 
so  well  laid  on,  almost  deceives  us  at  the  pre- 
sent hour.  But  Sejanus  found  a  more  power- 
ful support  in  his  two  friends  fa  J,  Asinius 
Galhis  and  Lentulus  Gaetulicus.  The  former, 
being,  as  has  been  mentioned,  on  bad  terms 
with  Tiberius,  was  the  more  ready  to  list  in 
the  faction  of  Sejanus.  He  became  the  zea- 
lous partisan  of  the  minister,  and  drew  to  his 
interest  the  leading  members  of  the  senate 
GaetuHcus  was,  at  this  time,  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  legions  in  the  Upper 
Gerni^my.  He  owed  this  promotion  to.  the 
influence  of  Sejanus,  to  whose  son  he  had 
offered  his  daughter  in  marriage.  This  he 
knew  vvould  cement  a  closer  union  between 
liim  and  his  patron ;  and  the  patron,  in  the 


270  SUPPLEMENT. 

I500K    meaii  tiinc,  was  not  blind  to  the  advantages 
V,  .  .  .         , 

whicli  he   himself  might   derive  from    that 

aUiaiice.      Lucius   Apronius,    the    uncle  of 
Gittuhcus,  wa^at  the  iiead  of  the  army  on 
the  Lower  Rhine;  and,  by  forming  a  con- 
nection with  that  family,  Sejanus  saw  that, 
in  fact,  he  should  have  eight  legions  at  his 
beck.     This  was  a  prospect  that    flattered 
his  hopes,  and  gave  new  arflour  to  that  spirit 
of  enterprise,  whicli   no\v   began    to    hurry 
him  on  to  the  consummation  of  his  wishes. 
Honours,    dignities,    all   employments   and 
places  of  trust,  were  granted  at  his  will  and 
pleasure,  and  to  none  but  men  ready  to  co- 
operate in  his  worst  designs.     The  minister,    « 
thus  supported,  stood  but  one  remove  from 
the  soven^ign  power ;  but  his  elevation  placed   | 
him  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice,  from  which 
his  fall  would  inevitably  be  sudden  and  ter- 
rible, 

13.  Tiberius,  in  the  mean  time,  was  ever 
on  the  watch.  He  observed  ail  that  passed 
witli  acute,  but  silent  attention.  Bending 
under  the  weight  of  yCars,  and  still  a  slave  to 
his  iewd  desires,  he  was  anxious  to  preserve 
his  power  to  the  last.  AVith  this  view  he  con- 
tinued to  act  with  his  usual  policy  ;  in  ap~ 


SUPPLEMENT.  271 

pearance  resigned  to  indolence,  yet  making  book 
use  of  his  vices  to  shade  his  secret  purposes. 
His  whole  attention  was  fixed  on  the  conduct 
ofSejanus.  The  alliance  projected  between 
the  minister  and  GiXitulicus  (a)^  who  filled  a 
post  of  such  importance,  alarmed  his  fears. 
The  active  zeal  of  Asinins  Gall  us  was  an- 
other cause  of  suspicion.  He  resolved  to 
remove  a  man  of  so  much  weight,  and,  hav- 
ing formed  that  deep  design,  he  soon  seized  his 
opportunity  to  carry  it  into  execution. 

\  14.  AsiNius  Gallus,  still  persisting  to 
exert  himself  in  the  interest  of  Sejanus,  made 
a  florid  speech  in  the  senate,  concluding  with 
a  string  of  new  honours  to  be  decreed  to  the 
favourite.  The  motion  succeeded  to  his 
wishes.  He  fa  J  was  deputed  by  the  fathers 
to  know  the  emperor's  pleasure.  During  his 
1  stay  at  the  Isle  of  Caprca^  Tiberius  sent  a 
I  letter  to  the  senate,  representing  him  as  a 
I  disturber  of  the  public  peace,  and  in  direct 
i  terms  reQuirin£:j  that  he  should  be  forthwith 
t  secured  in  the  house  of  one  of  the  consuls. 
I  The  fathers  knew  that  delay  on  their  part 
would  be  considered  as  a  crime.  Havincr 
'  offended  in  the  case  of  Agrippina,  and  not 


272  SUPPLEMENT* 

**^°^  daring  to  provoke  resentment  a  second  time^ 
^"^^^  they  obeyed  without  hesitation.  A  praetor 
2^P  was  dispatched  to  the  Isle  of  Capreae,  to  take 
^'  charge  of  the  prisoner.  Asiniiis,  in  the  mean 
time,  was  ignorant  of  all  that  passed  at  Home. 
lie  was  well  received  by  the  emperor,  a  con- 
stant i>uest  at  his  table,  and  a  sharer  in  all 
his  pleasures.  In  the  gaiety  of  a  social  hour 
he  w^as  informed  of  the  judgment  pronounced 
against  him  by  the  senate.  The  first  emo- 
tions of  surprise  overpowered  his  reason.  In 
order  to  secure,  b}'  a  voluntary  death,  his 
fortune  for  his  children,  he  endeavoured  to 
lay  violent  hands  on  himself.  Tiberius  dis- 
suaded him  from  his  purpose,  giving  him  at 
the  same  time  strong  assurances  that  he  might 
safely  rely  on  the  protection  of  the  prince 
and  the  favour  of  Sejanus.  Asinius  yielded 
to  that  advice.  He  was  conveyed  to  Rome 
under  a  guard,  and  there,  without  being 
heard  in  his  defence,  thrown  into  close  con- 
finement, shut  up  from  the  sight  of  his 
friends,  and  debarred  from  all  food,  ex- 
cept what  was  necessary  to  prolong  his  I 
life.  His  friend  Syriacus  f ^J,  a  man  distin- 
guished  by  his  talents  and  his  eloquence,  met  I 
with  a  gentler  punishment.     His  intimacy 


s 

f 


SUPPLEMENT.  273 

with  Asinius  was  his  only  crime,  and  for  that    book 
]ic  was  put  to  instant  death  ;  happy  to  escape  v-^-w 
from  the  power  of  a  tyrant,  who,  by  a  refine-     783. 
ment  in  cruelty,  made  life  itself  the  worst  tor-      ^o, 
ture  he  could  inflict. 


15.  Sejanus  was  now  persuaded  that  the 
sovereign  power  was  within  his  o;rasp.  Dazzled 
by  that  glittering  scene,  he  did  not  perceive 
that  the  ruin  of  Asinius  was  a  blow  aimed 
at  himself.  Tiberius  still  continued  to  watch 
the  motions  of  the  minister,  weighing  every 
circuiifstance,  and  brooding  in  silence  over 
liis  own  designs.  He  conversed  in  private  with 
Sejanus  ;  he  perused  his  countenance  ;  he 
explored  his  secret  thoughts,  and  from  what 
he  saw  and  heard  drew  his  own  conclusions. 
A  penetrating  observer  of  mankind,  he  knew 
tliat  prosperity  is  the  surest  discoverer  of  the 
liuman  heart.  lie  resolved,  therefore,  to  ply 
Sejanus  with  marks  of  the  warmest  affection  ; 
he  lavished  his  favours  on  him  with  un- 
])0unded  generosity  ;  he  praised  his  unre- 
mitting labours  in  the  service  of  his  prince ; 
and,  to  put  him  off  his  guard,  determined  to 
overwhehn  him  with  a  load  of  grandeui'.  The 
marriage  with  Livia  (a),  the  widow  of  his 

VOL.    II.  T 


274  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK  son  Drusiis,  which  he  had  formerly  rejected, 
he  knew  would  intoxicate  the  vanity  of  the 
ambitious  minister.  With  that  view  he  gave 
his  consent  to  the  match,  resolved  by  acts  of 
kindness  to  prove  the  secrets  of  the  heart. 
Tiberius  did  not  stop  here.  He  was  aware 
that  Sejanus,  while  he  remained  at  Caprea?, 
"Would  act  with  circumspection  ;  but,  if  re- 
moved to  a  distance,  would  most  probably 
drop  the  mask.  In  a  solitary  island  the  fa- 
vourite had  every  thing  in  his  power  ;  the 
praetorian  guards,  stationed  on  the  spot,  were 
under  his  command,  and  all  dispatches  to  the 
prince  passed  through  their  hands.  Sejanus 
was,  by  consequence,  master  of  every  thing. 
He  could  suppress  or  deliver  what  he  tliought 
proper.  The  court  was  filled  with  Jiis  crea- 
tures, all  of  them  spies  upon  the  actions  of  the 
prince,  and  all  devoted  to  the  minister. 

16.  Tiberius  felt  these  disadvantages,  and 
accordingly  devised  an  artful  plan  to  free 
himself  from  the  embarrassment.  Under  co- 
lour' of  doing  lionour  to  his  friend,  but,  in 
truth,  to  remove  him  from  his  presence,  he 
proposed  to  make  him  joint  consul  with 
himbelf.     The  functions  of  that  high  office. 


SUPPLEMENT.  275 

he  weli  knew,  would  require  the  constant  re-    book 
sidence  of  the  magistrate  at  a  distance  from  ^^^'J^ 
Caprece  ;  and  the  emperor  from  his  sohtary    1%^ 
ro(*k,  as  from  a  watch  tower,  might  superin-      ^^' 
tend  all   his  measures.     There  was  besides 
another  advantage,   of  the  iirst  consequence 
to   Tiberius.     While  the  consul  passed  his 
whole  time  at  Rome,  the  praetorian  guards 
would  be  weaned  from  their  former  master, 
and,  if  necessary,  ]\Iacro  might  be  dispatched 
to  undertake  the  command,  under  a  plausi- 
ble promise  to  resign,  whenever  the  minister 
should  be  at  leisure  from  the  duties  of  his 
maoistracv,  to  resume  his  station.      Macro 
approved  of  this  new  arrangement.      With 
the  true  spirit  of  a  court  sycophant,  wishing 
for  an  opportunity  to  creep  into  favour,  he 
professed  himself  devoted  to  the  service  of 
his  prince,  while,  in  fact,  he  was  determined, 
by  every  sinister   art,  to  su]3plant  a  proud 
and  domineering  favourite. 


17.  Sejanus,  amidst  all  the  dignities  so 
liberally  heaped  upon  him,  little  suspected 
an  underplot  to  work  his  ruin.  Ho  con- 
tinued, with  every  mark  of  a  fawning  spirit, 
to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  emperor  ;  he 

T  2 


276  StrpPLEMENf'. 

BOOK  was  the  s6le  fountain  of  court  favour  ;  he 
looked  down  with  contempt  upon  the  young 
Cahgula ;  and  of  the  twin-born  sons  of  Dru- 
sus,  the  one,  Mho  still  survived,  was  too 
young  to  alarm  his  jealousy.  He  received 
the  homage  of  his  creatures  ;  he  distributed 
presents  with  magnificence,  and  still  took 
care  to  keep  the  prince  immersed  in  luxury. 
Tiberius  saw,  with  inward  pleasure,  the 
towering  spirit  of  the  consul  elect.  In- 
creasing honours,  he  had  no  doubt,  would 
unprovide  his  mind,  and,  in  a  short  time, 
produce  the  genuine  features  of  his  character. 


A.  u.  c.       Igi.  We  enter  now  upon  the  fifth  consul- 

784.  .  ,  .  . 

A=D.  ship  of  Tiberius,  with  Sejanus  for  his  col- 
league. While  the  emperor  remained  in  his 
solitary  island  (aj,  Sejanus  made  his  entry 
into  Rome,  with  the  pomp  of  a  sovereign 
prince  taking  possession  of  his  dominions. 
The  streets  resounded  with  peals  of  joy.  The 
senators,  the  Roman  knights,  all  ranks  of  men 
pressed  round  the  new  consul  with  their  con- 
gratulations. His  house  was  crowded,  his  gates 
were  besieged,  and  all  were  eager  to  pa}^ 
their  court.  They  knew  the  jealousy  of  a 
man  raised  to  sudden  elevation;  they  dreaded 


SI^PPLEMENT.  277 

the  daiiiijer  of  neolect  or  inattention  ;  and  all    book 
were  \viliin«;  to  crawl  in  servitude.    Ihe  pre-  ^-^^v^*- 

^  _  ,  ^  A.  U.  C. 

vailing  opinion  was,  that  Tiberius,  worn  out  "^^1^ 
with  age,  and  no  longer  equal  to  a  weight  ^^' 
of  cares,  would,  for  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  resign  himself  to  his  usual  pleasures, 
content  with  the  shadow  of  imperial  gran- 
deur, while  the  administration  went  on  in  his 
name,  though  conducted  by  his  favourite. 
Tiberius  seemed  no  more  than  the  lord  of  an 
island,  while  Sejanus  was  considered  as  the 
vicegerent  of  the  emperor,  the  actual  govern- 
or of  the  R<j>man  world.  In  this  persuasion 
all  bowed  down  before  him  ;  they  depended 
on  his  smiles  ;  they  approached  his  presence 
with  a  degree  of  respect  little  short  of  ado- 
ration ;  his  statues  were  set  up  in  every 
.quarter ;  curule  chairs  were  decorated  with 
gold  ;  victims  were  slain,  and,  in  the  ho- 
nours offered  to  tlie  minister,  the  prince  was 
only  mentioned  for  the  sake  of  form,  in  con- 
formity to  established  usage.  Religious  wor- 
ship was  not  yet  offered  to  the  ambitious  nia- 
gistrate  ;  but  the  men,  who  blushed  to  go  to 
that  extreme,  fell  prostrate  before  his  statues, 
and  there  poured  fortii  their  impious  vows. 

19-  Tiberius  had  regular  intelligence  of 
all  that  passed ;  but  the  time  was  not  arrived. 


278  SUPPLEMENT. 

■  BOOK  when  the  secrets  of  that  dark  desi<^ninf:r  mind 

V.  .  .     *^ 

^^^^^■^^  were  to  transpire.  He  lay  in  wait  for  further 

A.  U.  C.  ^  "       . 

"784.    particulars.     In  the  mean  time,  he  addressed 
^^'     himself  to  Lucius  Piso  fa  J,  a  man  descended 
from  a  father  of  censorian  rank,who  possessed 
the  happy  art  of  knowing  how  to  avoid  the 
extremes  of  liberty  and   mean   submission. 
Acting  always  with  temper  and  with  wisdom, 
he  had  recommended  himself  to  the  esteem 
and  favour  of  Tiberius.     He  could  mix  in 
scenes  of  luxury,  and  yet  retain  his  virtue. 
Being  praefect  of  Rome,  he  was,  by  conse- 
quence,   a   confidential    minister,    entrusted 
with  all  the  secrets  of  the  court.     Tiberius 
requested  him,   as  a  proof  of  his  fidelity,  to 
take  careful  notice  of  all  that  passed  in  the 
city,  and   to  transmit  to   Caprea?  an  exact 
account    of  the  proceedings  in  the  senate, 
the  language  of  the  Roman  knights,  the  dis- 
contents and  clamours  of  the  populace,  and, 
above  all,  the  cabals,  intrigues,  and  every 
action  of  the  consul.     Wishing  still  to  de- 
ceive by  fair  appearances,  he  took  care,  in  his 
letters   to  the  senate,  to  make  honourable 
mention    of   Sejanus,    styling    him,    on    all 
occasions,    the  prop    and   guardian   of  the 
empire  ;  his  associate  in  the  administratioa  ; 
his  dear,  his  well-beloved  Sejanus. 


SUPPLEMENT.  279 

20.  Encouraged  by  these  marks  of  fa-    book 

V. 

vour,  the  new  consul,  to  make  his  authority  ^-'^n'^ 

'  '  f     A.  U.  C. 

felt,  resolved  to  let  fall    the  weight  of  his    ^'^^ 
power  on  all,  who  scorned  to   bend  before      ^^' 
him  with  abject  humility.     lie  'began  with 
Gei'minius  Rufus  CaJ  on  a  charge  of  violated 
majesty.     Rufus  appeared  before  the  senate. 
His   defence  was  short,  but  delivered  with 
magnanimity.   "  The  man,"  he  said,  '^  who 
''  stands  accused  of  being  an   enemy  to  the 
*'  prince,  has    by   his  Avill  made  that  very 
^'  prince  equal   heir  with  his  own  children." 
Having  uttered  these  words,  he  laid  the  Avill 
on  the  table,  and  withdrew  to  his  own  house. 
A  qui\;stor  follov.ed  to  acquaint  him  with  the 
sentence  of  the  fathers.  Rufus  no  sooner  saw 
the  messenger,  than  he  drew  his  sword,  and, 
plunging  it  in  his  breast,  "  Behold,"  he  said, 
^'  how  a  man  of  honour  can  die :  go,  and  re- 
^'  port  what  you  have  seen  to  the  senate." 
He  spoke,  .and  breathed  his  last.     Prisca  his 
wife  was  involved  in  the  prosecution.     She 
•appeared  before  the  Withers,  determined  to 
-emulate  the  example  of  her  husband.     They 
bei^an  to  interrogate   her :    in   that    instant 
she  drew  a  dagger,  which  she  had  concealed 
under  her  robe,  and  giving  herself  a  mortal 
stab,  expired  on  the  spot. 


280  SUPPLEMENT. 

21.  AVhile  Sejanus,  to  gratify  his  ven- 
geance, laid  waste  the  city  of  Home,  Tiberius 
looked  on  with  calm  indifference.  The  de- 
struction of  men  obnoxious  for  their  virtue, 
gratified  his  natural  cruelty  ;  and  the  public 
detestation,  he  was  sure,  would  in  the  end 
fall  on  the  minister.  The  senate,  in  the  mean 
time,  went  on  in  a  style  of  abject  submission. 
Flattery  was  well  nigh  exliausted  ;  but  tlie 
members  of  that  assenibly  were  determined  to 
rack  their  invention  for  new  proofs  of  sordid 
meanness.  They  lamented  that  the  dignity  of 
the  consulship  was  lessened  by  the  shortness 
of  its  duration,  and  therefore  voted  that  Ti- 
berius and  his  colleague  should  continue  faj 
in  office  for  the  space  of  live  years.  Sejanus 
Avas  now  at  the  pinnacle  of  his  wishes.  He 
saw  the  emperor  near  the  verge  of  life,  and, 
sure  of  enjoying  the  consular  authority  after 
the  death  of  his  master,  he  made  no  doubt  of 
succeeding  to  the  sovereign  power. 

22.  In  due  time  the  decree  for  extendinir 
the  consulship  to  a  longer  term  w^as  comnm- 
nicated  to  Tiberius.  Nothing  could  be  more 
opposite  to  his  intention.  lie  was  willing  to 
let  Sejanus,  by  his  acts  of  cruelty,  provoke 
tJie  ill  will  of  the  ])eople  ;  but  to  prolong  his 


SUPPLEMENT.  281 

power  was  no  part  of  his  plan.  He  expressed  book 
his  (lishke  of  the  measure,  but  in  terms  of 
<>entle  reproof,  determined  neither  to  disco- 
ver his  hidden  purposes,  nor  to  irritate  the 
pride  of  his  colleague  by  an  abrupt  refusal. 
lie  observed  to  the  senate,  "  that  their  late 
"  decree  was  an  infringement  of  the  consti^ 
*'  lution.  It  had  been  the  wisdom  of  the 
''  lathers  to  declare,  that  the  consulship 
*'  should  not,  of  necessity,  last  an  entire 
*'  3^ear.  By  making  it  a  quinquennial  office, 
*'  they  would  withhold  from  men  of  eminence 
''  tlie  reward  due  to  their  public  services, 
*'  and  the  provinces  would  be  deprived  of 
"  able  governors.  It  was  for  the  v  isdom  of 
?'  the  senate  to  consider,  not  what  would  do 
*'  honour  to  the  prince  and  his  deaiiy  be- 
?'  loved  colleague,  but  wliat  would  be  most 
''-  conducive  to  the  happiness  and  good  order 
''  of  the  empire.  That,  and  that  only,  was 
^'  the  object  which  he  and  Sejanus  had  nearest 
to  their  hearts  ;  and,  in  comparison  with 
that  great  object,  they  disregarded  public 
honours."  lie  dispatched  at  the  ,^ame  time, 
a  private  letter  to  Sejanus,  advising  hhn  to 
abdicate  his  office;  and,  to  induce  him  to  it 
by  his  own  example,  he  sent  a  letter  of  re- 


2^2  SUPPLEMENT. 

^^^^^  signal  ion.  Sejanus  felt  the  disappointment. 
Unwilling,  however,  to  make  known  the 
wound  which  his  pride  had  suffered,  he  com- 
plied with  the  emperor's  directions,  and,  ab- 
out the  middle  of  jMay,  went  out  of  office, 
soon  to  have  a  more  dreadful  fall. 

23.  On  the  seventh  of  the  ides  of  Mdy, 
Cornelius  Sylla  and  Sexteidius  Catullinusff/J 
bucceedtd  to  the  consulship.    They  were  ap- 
pointed   for  three   months.     Tiberius  con- 
tinued to  manage  appearances,  still  mysteri- 
ous, close,  and  impenetrable.     Sejanus,  on 
his  part,  was  not  free  from  anxiety.     He  saw 
a  change  in  the  affections  of  the  emperor, 
and,  for  that  reason,  wished  to  revisit  Ca- 
prea:.     In  the  solitude  of  that  place  he  had 
no  doubt  but  he   could  again  wind  himself 
into  favour,  or,  if  necessary,  he  could  there, 
with  better  advantage,   pursue  the  road  of 
his  ambition.     His  ostensible  reasons  for  de- 
siring to  return  were,  the  ill  health  of  Livia, 
who  required  a  change  of  air ;  and,  after  a 
long  separation,  his  own  earnest  wish  to  Imve 
an  interview   with  his  sovereign.     Tiberius 
was  not  to  be   deceived.     He  returned  for 
answer,  that  he  also  languished  for  a  sight 


SUPPLEMENT.  283 

of  his    friend  ;  but   the   service  of  the  state    book 
required  that  so  able  a  minister  should  re-  "^Tu 
main  at  Rome.    He  intended  shortly  to  visit     2%. 
the  capital,    and  should  there  embrace  Se~      "^* 
janus.     In   his   letters  to  the  senate  he  had 
the  art  to  blend  hints  of  dislike  with  marks 
of  affection  ;  and,  though  still  equivocal,  he 
gave  some  reason  to  think,  that  he  was  wean- 
ina"  himself  from  his  favourite.    He  mention- 
ed  him  slightly,  or  hinted  some  exception, 
and  occasionally  passed  him   by  in  silence. 
He  talked   of  hhnseif  as   a  superannuated 
prince,  worn  out  with   infirmities,  and  near 
his  end.    In  his  next  letters  he  was  perfectly 
recovered,  and  on  the  point  of  setting  out  for 
Rome.     The  people  were  the  dupes  of  his 
fallacy,  while  he  remained  fixed  in  his  retreat, 
content  to  reign  in  solitary  grandeur. 

24.  Tiberius  thought  it  time  to  unmask 
another  battery  against  Sejanus.  He  had  in- 
vited the  young  Caligula  f  «J  to  his  court,  and, 
having  made  him  put  on  the  manly  gown,  he 
desired  that  the  senate  would  invest  him  with 
the  dignities  of  augur  and  pontiff,  both  va- 
cant by  the  banishment  of  his  brother  Nero. 
Of  Claudius  (bj  (afterward  emperor)  he  took 


284  SUPPLEMENT. 


V. 


BOOK  no  notice.  That  prince  had  never  been 
adopted  into  the  CaDsarean  family.  He  lived 
at  Rome  neglected  and  despised  by  the  court 
of  Tiberius.  Antonia,  his  mother,  used  to 
say,  tliat  nature  began  to  mould  him,  but 
had  not  finished  ])er  work.  Perception  and 
memory  were  faculties  which  he  did  not  want ; 
but  judgment  and  elocution  were  witliheld 
from  him.  In  his  private  studies  he  made 
considerable  acauisitions  in  literature  ;  but 
in  public  he  lost  his  recollection,  and  with  it 
the  power  of  thinking.  When  under  the  ope- 
ration of  fear,  he  seemed  torpid  and  insensi^ 
ble ;  and  sudden  fear  continued  to  haunt 
him  in  every  stage  of  life,  and  even  on  the 
throne.  No  wonder  that  Tiberius  held  him 
in  no  kind  of  estimation;  but  the  honours 
conferred  upon  Caligula,  he  knew,  wouk! 
prove  a  mortal  stab  to  the  ambition  of  Se- 
janus.  Still,  however,  to  amuse  the  favourite 
with  delusive  hopes,  he  required  a  grant  from 
the  senate  of  two  more  pontificates,  one  for 
Sejanus,  and  the  other  for  his  eldest  son. 
By  this  ambiguous  conduct  the  people  of 
Rome  were  held  in  suspense.  Whether  they 
were  to  expect  an  account  of  the  emperor's 
death,  or  in  a  short  time  to  see  him  in  the 


A.  U.  C. 

784. 
A.  D. 


SUPPLEMENT^  285 

city,  was  a  point  not  to  be  ascertained,  book 
Meanwhile,  the  senate,  ever  prone  to  flat- 
tery, passed  a  vote,  investing  Sejanus  with  js^ 
the  title  of  proconsul,  and  at  the  same  time 
declaring  his  conduct  in  his  magistracy  a 
mode  for  the  imitation  of  all  future  con- 
suls. 

25.  Sejanus  began  to  fluctuate  between 
hope  and  fear  ;  but  the  senate  shewino;  still 
the  same  obsequious  behaviour,  he  flattered 
himself  that  he  should  be  able  to  reach  the 
summit  of  his  ambition.  Religious  worship 
continued  to  be  offered  to  him.  It  is  said, 
that  he  assisted  in  person  at  the  celebration 
of  the  rites,  at  once  tlie  god  and  the  priest 
of  his  own  altar.  Tiberius  knew  the  effect 
of  superstition  on  the  public  mind.  To  de- 
prive Sejanus  of  that  advantage,  he  wrote  to 
the  senate,  complaining,  that,  in  direct  op- 
position to  the  principles  of  religion  and  to 
common  sense,  the  worship  due  to  the  gods 
alone  fa  J  was  impiously  transferred  to  mortal 
man.  lie  ordered  that  no  such  honours 
should  be  jxiid  to  himself,  and,  by  conse- 
(juence,  left  Sejanus  exposed  to  the  contempt 
and  derision  of  the  peoph 


le. 


286  SUPPLEMENT. 


A.  U.C 
7S4. 
A.  D 


BOOK       26.  At  Rome  it  was  now  understood  that 
the  emperor  was  ahenated  from  tlie  man,  who 
7S4.     had  been  rairsed  to  such  a  hei^lit  of  power 

A.  D.  . 

31'     and  grandeur.     Sejanus  began   to  open  his 
eyes,  and  to  see  at  length  a  reverse  of  for- 
tune,   lie  found  that  lie  had  been  the  bubble 
of  a  politic  prince,  who  had  been,  during  his 
whole  life,  exercised  in  the  arts  of  dissimu- 
lation, and  was  grown  a  perfect  master  in  the 
arts  of  deceit  and  cruelty.     The  3'oung  Ca- 
ligula was,  in    appearance,    high   in  favour 
with  his  grandfather,  and  the  hearts  of  the 
people  were  at  all  times  ready  to  espouse  the 
family    of  Germanicus.      The    disappointed 
minister  saw,  too   late,  the  want  of  resolu- 
tion which  restrained    him,    during"  his  con- 
.sulship,  when  the  whole  power  of  the  state 
was  in  his  own  hands.     In  the  arts  of  fraud 
lie  saw  that  he  was  no  match  for  a  systema- 
tic  politician,  who  planned  his  measures  in 
the  gloom  of  solitude,  and  never  let  his  coun- 
sels transpire,  till  in  one  and  the  same  instant 
they  were  known  and  felt.  Sejanus  resolved 
to   retrieve   his    loss,    and   by  one  vigorous 
effort  to  decide  the  fate  of  empire.  lie  called 
together  his  friends  and   followers  ;   he  paid 
court  to  such  as  seemed  disaft^ected  :  he  held 


SUPPLEMENT.  'iSf 


V. 

A.  U.  C. 

78-1 
A- 1 


forth  rewards  and  promises,  and,   having  in-  sook 
creased  the  number  of  his  partisans,  formed 

a  bold  conspiracy  (a),  resolved  bj-  any  means  ^f  J- 
to  seize  the  sovereign  power. 

27.  A  POWERFUL  league  was  formed  with 
astonishing  rapidity,  and  great  numbers  of  all 
descriptions,  senators  as  well  as  military  men, 
entered  into  the  plot.  Among  tliese  Satrius 
Secundus  was  the  confidential  friend  and 
prime  agent  of  the  minister.  ^Ve  have  seen 
this  man  let  loose  by  Sejanus  (a)  against  the 
life  of  Cremutius  Cordus,  and  now  we  are 
to  see  him,  with  the  arts  in  which  he  had 
been  trained,  employed  against  his  master. 
AV'hatever  was  his  motive,  whether  fear,  or 
views  of  interest  or  ingratitude  (for  no  prin- 
ciple of  honour  can  be  imputed  to  him),  he 
resolved  to  betray  the  secret  to  Tiberius. 
For  this  purpose  he  addressed  himself  to 
Antonia,  the  daughter  ot"  Antony  the 
triumvir,  the  widow  of  Drusiis,  and  the  mo- 
ther of  Germanicus.  Tlie  character  of  this 
illustrious  woman  was  honoured  by  the  court, 
and  revered  by  the  people.  She  lost  her 
husband  in   the  prime  of  lite,  wlien  she  had 


f8S  suppleivIekt'. 

BOOK  still  the  attractions  of  youth  and  beauty  ; 
and,  thougli  Augustus  proposed  to  her  se~ 
veral  advantageous  matches,  she  remained 
faithful  to  her  first  vows,  and  declined  every 
overture.  Her  dignity  Avas  free  from  pride  ; 
she  had  virtue  without  ostentation,  and  an- 
elevation  of  mind  without  the  ambition  and 
haughty  spirit  of  Agrippina  her  daughter- 
in-law.  She  saw  her  ^rand-children  cut  off 
by  the  wicked  arts  of  Sejanus,  and  in  silent 
£:iief  lamented  the  downfal  of  her  family^ 
When  jSTero  was  banished  to  the  isle  of 
Pontia,  and  Drusus  lay  confined  in  a  dun- 
2[eon,  she  took  Calimila  their  brother  undei* 
her  protection,  and  hoped  that  her  house 
w^ould  prove  a  sanctuary  for  the  last  sur- 
vivinsc  issue  of  Germanicus,  Her  conduct 
gave  no  umbrage  to  Tiberius.  He  respected 
her  cliaracter,  and,  perhaps  for  that  reason., 
was  inclined,  at  last,  to  shew^  some  favour  to 
Cahi>;ula. 

Satrius,  the  conspirator,  had  no  avenues  of 
approach  to  Tiberius.  He  therefore  made 
his  advances  to  Antonia,  concluding,  that,  by 
a  stroke  of  perfidy,  he  might  promote  his  in- 

7 


4 


SUPPLEMENT.  289 

terest  in  that  quarter.  Plis  design  was  no  book 
sooner  conceived  than  executed.  He  gained 
access  to  Antonia,  and  made  a  full  discovery 
of  the  whole  conspiracy.  That  prudent  wo- 
man heard  the  particulars,  and,  without  de^ 
lay,  sent  dispatches  to  the  emperor  by  one 
of  her  slaves,  whose  name  was  Pallas  (h)  :  the 
same  who  afterwards  figured  in  a  higher  cha- 
racter, under  the  emperor  Claudius. 

28.  Tiberius  was  astonished,  but  not  dis- 
mayed. The  danger  pressed ;  his  habitual 
slowness  was  out  of  season  ;  the  time  called 
for  vigour  and  decisive  measures.  He  sent 
Macro  to  Rome,  with  a  special  commission 
to  take  upon  him  the  command  of  the  prae- 
torian guards.  He  added  full  instructions 
for  his  conduct  in  all  emeroencies.  If  he 
found  that  Sejanus  and  his  party  were  able 
to  stir  up  an  insurrection,  he  desired  that 
Drusus  (a J  should  be  led  forth  from  his  con- 
finement, and  presented  to  the  people  as  their 
leader.  The  son  of  Germanicus,  he  was 
aware,  would  triumph  over  an  obscure  native 
of  Vulsinii.  In  the  mean  time,  Tiberius  was 
determined  to  be  prepared  for  all  possible 
events.     He  ordered  the   fleet,   that  lay  at 

VOL.    II,  u 


290  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK    Miscnum,  to  assemble  at  the  isle  of  Caprei^, 


A.  u.  c. 


with  intent,  if  any  disaster  happened,  to  sail 
to  some-  distant  coast,  and  put  himself  at  the 

A.  D.  . 

31.  head  of  such  of  the  legions  as  still  remained 
faithful  to  their  prince.  In  order  to  obtain 
the  quickest  intelligence,  he  ordered  signals 
(b)  to  be  disposed  along  the  sea-shore,  on  the. 
whole  way  from  Surrentum  to  Rome. 

29-  The  consuls  at  this  time  were  Mem- 
mius  Regulus  and  Fulcinius  Trio,  both  ap- 
pointed to  fill  the  office  from  the  middle  of 
August  to  the  end  of  the  year.  Trio  had  ren- 
dered himself  infamous  by  the  prosecution  of 
liibo  :  he  was  besides  known  to  be  the  tool 
and  creature  of  Sejanus.  Regulus  was  of  a 
different  mould,  from  his  upright  conduct 
deriving  great  consequence,  and,,  at  that 
time,  much  esteemed  by  Tiberius.  The 
praetorian  bands,  as  already  stated,  were  un- 
der the  influence  of  Sejanus.  With  the  co- 
horts-, that  formed  the  city  guard,  the  case 
"  wasdifferent.  Subject  to  the controul  of  Piso^ 
who  was  then  prsefect  of  Rome,  they  had  no 
connection  with  the  minister.  Under  Piso^ 
Graecinus  Laco  was  their  commanding  offi- 
cer ;  a  man  distinguished  by  his  military  ta- 
lents and  his  firm  integrity.     In  this  posture 


SUPPLEMENT.  291 

of  affairs,  Macro  f«J  arrived  from  Caprea3.   book 
He  Entered  the  city  in  a  private  manner,  af-  "^^^^f^ 
ter   the  close  of  day,  and  went  directly  to    2^^. 
Reoful us  the  consul.     He  communicated  the      ^^- 
emperor's  orders.     Laco   was  called  to  the 
meeting.  They  consulted  together,  and  set- 
tled their  plan  of  operations  for  the  following 
day.     Tiberius,  in  this  interval  of  suspense, 
took  his  station  on  the  sharp  point  of  a  rock, 
surveying  the  deep  that  rolled  beneath,  and 
with  an  anxious  eye  gazing  at  the  opposite 
shore  for  the  earliest  intelligence. 

30.  The  fatal  day  arrived,  namely,  the 
fifteenth  before  the  calends  of  November. 
Early  in  the  morning,  by  order  of  Regulus, 
a  report  was  spread,  that  letters  were  arrived 
at  Rome,  in  which  the  emperor  signified  his 
intention  to  associate  Sejanus  with  himself  in 
the  tribunitian  power.  The  senate  was  sum- 
inoned  to  meet  in  the  temple  of  Apollo,  near 
the  imperial  palace.  Sejanus  attended  with- 
out delay.  A  party  of  the  praetorians  fol- 
lowed him.  Macro  met  him  in  the  vestibule 
of  the  temple.  He  approached  the  minister 
^vith  all  demonstrations  of  profound  respect, 
and  taking  him  aside,  "  Be  not  surprised," 
he  said,  "  that  you  have  na  letter  from  the 

u2 


SUPPLEMENT. 


{( 
(( 


'^  prince  :  it  is  his  pleasure  to  declare  you  his 
''  colleague  iuthe  tribunitian  power  ;  but  he 
thinks  that  a  matter  of  so  much  import- 
ance should  be  communicated  to  the  fa- 
*'  thers  by  the  voice  of  the  consuls.  I  am 
"  going  to  deliver  the  emperor's  orders."  Se- 
janus,  elate  with  joy,  and  flushed  with  his 
new  dignity,  entered  the  senate-house.  Ma- 
cro followed  him.  As  soon  as  the  consuls 
arrived,  he  delivered  the  letter  from  Tibe- 
rius, and  immediately  went  forth  to  the  pra:- 
tarian  guards^  He  informed  them,  that,  by 
order  of  the  prince,  a  large  donative  was  ta 
be  distributed  among  the  soldiers.  He  add- 
ed, tliat,  by  a  new  commission,  he  himself 
was  appointed  their  commanding  officer,  and^ 
if  they  followed  him  tathe  camp,  they  would 
there  receive  the  promised  bounty.  The  lure 
was  not  thrown  out  in  vain  ;  the  pra^toriaa 
guards  quitted  their  station.  Laco,  who  stood 
near  at  hand,  immediately  surrounded  the 
senate-house  with  a  body  of  the  city  coJiorts,, 

51.  The  letter  to  the  consuls  was  confused., 
embarrassed,  and  with  studied  art  drawn  into 
length,  m  order  toJkeep  the  minds  of  the  fa- 
thers in  suspense,  while  Macro  gained  time  ta 
execute  what  had  been  concerted.     Regulus 


SUPPLEMENT.  293. 

read  the  letter  faj ;  it  began  with  general 
observations,  expatiating  at  large  on  the  state 
of  the  empire :  a  short  expression  gltinced  at 
Sejanus;  new  matter  followed  ;  and  then, 
winding  round  with  art,  hints  were  thrown  out 
against  the  minister,  in  a  perplexed  style, 
vague,  and  ambiguous.  It  went  on  in  the 
same  obscure  manner,  intermixing  things 
wholly  unconnected,  but  at  each  return  more 
pointed  against  Sejanus,  till  at  last  the  lan- 
guage of  open  invective  left  no  room  for 
doubt.  The  fathers  were  covered  with  asto- 
nishment. The  change  of  men's  minds,  in 
the  vicissitudes  of  human  aifairs,  was  never 
more  remarkable.  Those,  who  a  little  time 
before  congratulated  Sejanus  on  his  new  dig- 
nities,  began  to  shun  him  as  they  would  a 
contagion.  The  conclusion  of  the  letter  was 
like  a  stroke  of  thunder.  The  emperor  or- 
dered two  senators  (bj,  wlio  had  joined  in  the 
conspiracy,  to  be  put  to  death,  and  Sejanus 
to  be  thrown  into  prison.  He  signified,  at 
the  same  time,  his  intention  to  return  to 
Rome,  and,  for  that  purpose,  desired  that  one 
of  the  consuls  should  be  sent  with  a  miUtary 
guard  as  far  as  Caprea.',  in  order  to  conduct 
an  infirm  old  man  in  safety  to  the  capital. 


294  SUPPLEMENT. 

32.  Sejanus  kept  his  seat  like  a  man  be- 
numbed, senseless,   stupid  with  amazement. 
His  friends  deserted  him  on  every  side.  He 
remained  in  confusion,  pale  and  trembling, 
left  in  solitude,  till  the  praetors  and  tribunes 
of  the  people  gathered  round  him.    Regulus 
caUed  to  him,    '^  Rise,  Sejanus,   and  follow 
"  me."     The  ruined  favourite  looked  like  a 
statue  of  Despair.  He  gazed,  but  understood 
nothing ;  he  remained  torpid,  motionless,  as 
if  he  had  lost  the    faculty  of  hearing.     The 
consul  raised  his  arm,  and,  in  a  tone  of  me- 
nace, repeated  his  words  no  less  than  three 
times.     Sejanus  rose  in  con.sternation.     The 
door  of  the  senate-house  was  thrown  open  : 
Grascinus  Laco  entered,  and  secured  his  pri- 
soner.    Regulus  did  not  think  it  prudent  to 
put  the  question  to  the  assembly  ;  but,  con- 
tenting himself  with  the  voice  of  a  single  se- 
nator, ordered  Sejanus   to  be  loaded  with 
irons,  and  in  that  condition,  at  the  head  of  a 
numerous   body  of  magistrates,   conductec} 
him  to  prison. 

33.  The  downfal  of  Sejanus  filled  the  city 
with  exultation.  The  populace,  who  wor- 
shipped him  in  the  hour  of  prosperity,  rejoicccl 


i 


SUPPLEMENT. 


295 


to  see  the   sad  catastrophe  to  whkh  he  ^vas    book 
now  reduced.  They  followed  in  crowds, rend- 
incf  the  air  with  shouts,  and  pouring  forth  a 
torrent   of  abuse   and    scurrilous  language. 
The  prisoner  endeavoured  to  hide  his  face  : 
but  the   mob  delighted  to  see   remorse  and 
shame,  and  guilt  and  horror,  in  every  feature 
of  that  distracted  countenance.  They  reviled 
him  for  his  acts  of  cruelty  ;  they  laughed  at 
his  wild  ambition  ;  they  tore  down  his  images, 
and  dashed  his  statues  (a)  to  pieces.  He  was 
doomed  by  Tiberius  to  suffer  death  on  that 
very  day  ;  but,  as  he  had  a  powerful  factioii 
in  the  senate,  it  was  not  thought  adviseable, 
for  the  mere  formality  of  a  regular  condemna- 
tion,  to  hazard   a    debate.     Private    orders 
were  given  to  5rIacro  to  dispatch  him  with- 
out delay  ;  but  the  consul,  seeing  the  dispo- 
sitions of  the  people,  and  the  calm  neutrality 
of  the  praetorian    guards,  judged   it    best  to 
re-assemble  the  fathers.     They  met  in  the 
temple  of  Concord.  With  one  voice  Sejanus 
was  condemned  to  die,  and  the  sentence  was 
executed  without  dela}^     He  was  strangled 
in  the  prison.     His  body  was  dragged  to  the 
Gemonias,  and,  after  every  species  of  insult 
frjm  the  populace,  at  tlie  end  of  thre^  diky^ 


296  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK  was  thrown  into  the  Tiber  C^J'  Such  was 
the  tragic  end  of  that  ambitious  favourite. 
He  fell  a  terrible  example  to  all,  who,  in  any 
age  or  country,  may  hereafter^endeavour  by 
their  vices  to  rise  above  their  fellow  citizens. 

34.  The  execration,  with  which  the  popu- 
lace treated  the  ruined  minister^  was  perhaps 
nothing  more  than  the  variable  humour  of  a 
giddy  multitude   fa  J.     In  the  zenith  of  his 
power  Sejanus  met  with  obsequious  servility 
from'all  orders  of  men  ;  and,  had  he  continued 
to  flourish  in  prosperity,   there  is  too  much 
reason  to  infer  from  the  temper  of  the  times, 
that  the  same  debasement  of  the  human  cha- 
racter would  have   continued.     The  senate 
followed  the  example  of  the  people.     They 
passed  a  decree,  by  which  ''  it  was  declared 
*'  unlawful  to  wear  mourning  apparel  for  the 
"  deceased  minister  ;  his  name  was  ordered  to 
be  erased  out  of  the  calendar,  and  all  public 
registers  ;  the  statue  of  Liberty  was  to  be 
'*  erected  Jn  the  forum  :  a  day  of  public  re^ 
'*  joicingwas  appointed,  and  the  anniversary 
''  of  his  execution  was  to  be  celebrated  with 
'*  solemn  games  and  public  spectacles,  to  be 
''exhibited  by  the  sacerdotal  college  and  the 

3 


ti 


it 


A.  D. 
31. 


SUPPLEMENT.  297 

''  sodality  of  Augustan  priests."  I'he  fathers    book 
went  still  farther  :  that  the  state  miii;ht  never  f^ 
again  be  deemed  a  prey  for  the  enterprising     '^^'^^ 
genius  of  every  v/orthless  upstart,   it  was  de- 
clared, ''  that  for  the  future,  no  Roman  eiti« 
''  zen  should  be  invested  with  extravagant 
''  honours,  and  that  pubhc  oaths  sliould  ne- 
**  ver  be  sworn  upon  any  name  but  that  of 
*'  the  emperor." 

35.  It  is  fatally  too  true,  that,  Avhen  the 
public  mind  has  been  debased  b}'  shame  and 
servitude,  the  genuine  tone  of  liberty,  and 
the  firmness  of  an  independent  spirit,  are  not 
easily  recovered.  That  very  senate,  which, 
in  the  late  decree,  had  shewn  some  signs  of 
life,  was,  notwithstanding,  dead  to  all  sense 
of  public  virtue.  Adulation  and  time-serving 
flattery  were  grown  inveterate.  New  Iio^ 
nours  faj  were  to  be  invented  for  a  prince, 
who  deserted  his  post,  and  left  the  seat  ofem- 
pire,  to  hide  himself  from  the  world,  the  lord 
of  a  barren  island,  the  shadow  of  an  emperor. 
It  was,  however,  decreed,  that  he  should  be 
styled  "  the  fatherof  his  country,  and  that  his 
''  birth-day  should  be  celebrated  with  eques- 
"  trian  games,  and  other  demonstrations  of 
*'  joy ."  ^Macro  and  Gniscinus  Laco  were  con- 


298  SUPPLEMENT. 

300K  sidered  as  men,  who  deserved  to  stand  high 
in  the  estimation  of  the  emperor.  Flattery, 
therefore,  was  to  prepare  her  incense  for 
those  exalted  characters.  Besides  a  large 
sum  of  money,  to  be  paid,  as  a  reward  for 
their  services,  out  of  the  public  treasury, 
the  ensigns  of  pr«torian  dignity  were  granted 
to  Macro,  and  the  quii^storian  rank  to  Laco. 
The  former  was  also  complimented  with  a 
seat  in  the  theatre  among  the  senators,  arid 
the  honour  of  wearing  a  robe  bordered  with 
purple,  at  the  celebration  of  the  votive 
games.  In  this  manner,  after  the  dowjifal  of 
Qne  favourite,  two  new  ones  were  to  mount 
the  scene.  But,  from,  the  late  event,  those 
officers  had  learned  a  lesson  of  prudence  : 
they  declined  the  honours  so  lavishly  bestow* 
ed  upon  them. 

36.  Meanwhile,  Tiberius  was  apprised  of 
all  that  passed  at  Home.  From  the  jutting 
eininence  of  a  sharp-pointed  rock  he  had  seeu 
the  signals  along  the  coast,  and  special  mes- 
sengers had  been  sent  to  give  him  the  earliest 
information.  Rome,  in  the  mean  time,  was 
a  scene  of  tumult  and  wild  commotion.  The 
praetorian  guards  beheld  with  a  jealous  eye 
the  preference  given  to  the  cit}^  cohorts.  En- 


SUPPLEMENT-  (199 

raged  to  find  that  no  confidence  was  reposed  book 
in  themselves,  the  whole  corps  rushed,  with 
licentioiis  fury,  into  the  city,  and  there  bore 
doAyn  all  before  them,  committing  depreda- 
tions in  every  quiulcr,  and  levelling  houses 
to  the  ground.  The  populace  were  no  less  - 
inflamed  against  the  creatures  of  Sejanus. 
They  seized  on  all  who  had  been  instruments 
of  his  cruelty,  and,  executing  the  summary 
justice  of  an  enraged  multitude,  glutted  their 
thirst  of  blood.  Tiberius  wrote  to  the  ma- 
gistrates, in  the  strongest  terms,  requiring 
them  to  quell  all  insurrections,  and  restore 
the  public  peace.  The  fate  of  Sejanus  filled 
him  with  emotions  of  joy  too  strong  to  be 
concealed  ;  but  in  all  other  matters  nothing 
could  lay  open  the  secret  workings  of  that 
involved  and  gloomy  spirit.  He  was  never 
at  any  time  more  abstruse,  dark,  and  unin- 
telligible, lie  refused  to  see  the  deputies 
sent  by  the  senate  ;  he  rejected  the  honours 
which  had  been  decreed  to  him ;  and  even 
]\Iemmius  Ilegulus,  the  consul,  who  had 
served  him  so  faithfully,  was  not  admitted  to  i 
his  presence:  hating  the  commerce  of  man- 
kind, he  retired,  with  a  sullen  spirit,  to  one 
of  his  mansions,  called  the  Villa  of  Jupiter 


300  5Ul»PLEMENT. 


BOOK  fa  J,  and  there  continued  ruminating  in  soli- 
tude for  several  months. 


A.  U.  C 

784. 

A.  D. 

31. 


37.  The  (Jeputies  of  the  senate  returned  to 
Rome,  but  with  jio  pleasing  account  of  their 
expedition.  The  behaviour  of  the  prince  was 
a  mystery,  which  no  man  could  explain.  The 
fathers,  however,  concluded,  that  to  satisfy 
the  vengeance  of  the  emperor,  more  work  re- 
mained on  their  hands.  The  friends,  rela- 
tions, and  followers  ofSejanus,  were  ordered 
into  custody.  His  uncle,  Junius  Blassus,  was 
put  to  death.  The  charge  against  him  can- 
not now  be  stated  :  but  he  was  a  man  of 
eminence,  who  to  consummate  military  ta- 
lents united  great  political  wisdom  :  in  the 
eyes  of  Tiberius,  that  was  a  sufficient  crime. 
The  eldest  son  of  Sejanus,  though  too  young 
to  be  engaged  in  his  father's  plot,  was  also 
doomed  a  sacrifice.  Apicata  fa  J,  who,  as 
already  mentioned,  had  been  repudiated  by 
Sejanus,  was  not  condemned  by  the  senate  ; 
but  the  sight  of  her  son's  body,  thrown  into 
the  common  charnel,  made  life  a  load  no 
longer  to  be  endured.  She  drew  up  a  me- 
morial, containinc:  a  full  detail  of  the  wricked 
arts,  with  which  her  husband  and  the  younger 


A.  U.  C. 

734. 

AD. 

il. 


aUPPLEMENT.  SOI 

Livia  brought  Drusus,  the  emperor'^s  son,  to    book 
an  unthnely  death.  Having  finished  her  ac- 
count of  that  black  transaction,  she  sent  it 
by  a  trusty  messenger  to  the  isle  of  Capreae, 
and  put  a  period  to  her  days. 

38.  Tiberius  was  still  in  his  villa,  seques- 
tered from  the  eyes  of  mankind  ;  but  the  de- 
tection of  that  horrible  murder  roused  him 
from  his  lethargy.  He  had  till  then  believed 
that  Drusus  died  of  a  disorder  occasioned  bv 
his  own  intemperance  :  but  being  at  length 
acquainted  with  that  scene  of  villainy,  he 
sent  dispatches  to  the  senate,  demanding 
vengeance  on  all  who  were  any  way  concern- 
ed in  the  murder  of  his  son.  Eudemus,  the 
physician  fa  J,  and  Lygdus,  the  eunuch,  were 
put  to  the  rack,  and  with  their  dying  breatli 
confessed  all  the  particulars  of  that  horrible 
tragedy.  Livia,  the  widow  of  Drusus,  was 
taken  into  custody.  According  to  some  his- 
torians, Tiberius  gave  her  up  to  her  mother, 
Antonia  (bj ;  and  that  good  woman,  wha 
thought  it  of  the  essence  of  virtue,  that  guilt 
of  so  black  a  dye  should  not  remain  un- 
punished, left  her  to  die  by  famine.  But  this 
aecovmt  does  not  seem  worthy  of  credit.     In 


50£  SUPPLEMENT. 


£ooK    the  case  of  a  murdered  son,  why  should  Tibe* 

V. 

v^^^v-**^  rius,  a  man  by  nature  harsh  and  vindictive, 
'784.  '  hesitate  to  execute  the  stroke  of  justice  on  a 

A.  D. 

ai.  woman  of  so  abandoned  a  cliaracter  ?  It  is 
certain  that  he  passed  several  days  in  close 
enquiry  into  all  the  circumstances  of  that 
transaction  ;  and  when  the  fact  was  proved 
beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt ;  when  the 
emperor  saw  his  own  immediate  issue,  the 
only  one  of  his  family,  for  whom  he  retained 
a  spark  of  affection,  snatched  away  by  the 
treachery  of  an  unnatural  mother  ;  can  it  be 
supposed  that  he  felt  any  compassion  for  the 
person,  who  imbrued  her  hands  in  the  blood 
of  her  husband,  and  was,  besides,  the  sister 
of  Germanicus  ?  \ 

39.  LiviA,  the  vile  accomplice  of  Sejanus, 
was  brought  to  condign  punishment ;  and, 
after  duly  weighing  the  testimony  of  writers 
who  lived  near  the  time,  it  may  be  assumed 
as  an  historical  fact,  that  she  suffered  by  the 
order  of  Tiberius.  The  man,  who  in  the  Isle 
of  Rhodes  gave  strong  indications  of  his  innate 
cruelty,  and,  at  that  early  period,  was  called, 
by  his  rhetorical  preceptor,  "  a  composition 
*^  of  mud  faj  mixed   with   blood  f  who  be- 


SUPPLEMENT.  303 

came,  in  time,  so  hardened  by  repeated  mur-  book 
ders,  as  to  set  no  kind  of  value  on  the  lives 
of  the  most  upright  citizens,  was  not  likel}^ 
to  feel  the  smallest  touch  of  compunction, 
\vhen  revenge  was  prompted  to  strike  the 
blow,  which  justice  warranted.  It  is  well 
known,  that,  in  talking  of  the  lot  of  Priam, 
he  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  Asiatic 
prince  did  not  know  how  to  form  a  true  esti- 
mate of  human  felicity.  Priam's  happiness, 
he  said,  consisted  in  the  rare  event  of  having 
(b)  survived  all  his  race.  Tiberius  was  liv- 
ing fast  to  enjoy  that  portion  of  worldly  bliss. 
Drusus,  the  son  of  Germanicus,  languished 
in  a  dungeon,  condemned  never  again  to  see 
the  light  of  the  sun ;  and  if  Caligula  was  to 
be  spared,  it  was  for  the  reason  given  by  Ti- 
berius himself,  who  used  to  say,  "  I  suffer 
**  that  son  of  Germanicus  to  live,  that  he 
*'  may  be,  in  time,  apublic  calamity,  and  the 
**  fatal  author  of  his  own  destruction  fcj.  In 
'*  him  I  nourish  a  serpent  for  the  people  of 
Rome,  and  another  Phaeton  for  the  v/orld 


»i 


''  at  large." 


40.  It  will  not  be  unfit  to  mention,  in  this 
place,  a  few  instances  of  that  savage  cruelty, 
which  the  tyrant  practised  in  his  lone  retreat ; 


104  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK   and  which,  thouc^h  well  authenticated,  cannot 
''^^^^^f^  no^V  be  referred  to  any  particular  year.    The 
^^^     place  of  execution  fa  J,  where  so  many  un- 
^^*      happy  wretches  died  in  misery,  is  still  shewn 
amidst  the  rocks  of  Capreie.     It  stood  on  a 
jutting  eminence ;  and  from  that  fatal  spot 
all  who   incurred  his  displeasure  were,  after 
enduring  the  most  exquisite  torments,  thrown 
'  headlong   into  the  sea,  where  a  crew  of  ma- 
riners waited  to  receive  them,  with  orders, 
that  no  spark  of  life  might  remain  unextin- 
guished, to    break    their  limbs,    and  crush 
their  maui^led  bodies. 

Besides  a  number  of  his  old  friends  and 
confidential  inmates,  whom  he  retained  near 
his  person,  he  drew  from  Home  no  less  than 
twenty  (^IfJ  of  the  most  eminent  citizens,  to 
be  his  chief  advisers  and  to  form  his  cabinet- 
council.  Of  these  chosen  favourites,  if  we 
except  two  or  three  at  most,  the  whole  num- 
ber was,  for  different  reasons,  put  to  death. 
Sejanus  was  the  most  distinguished  victim  ; 
a  man  taken  into  favour,  at  fu'st  perhaps  w'ith 
personal  regard,  and  motives  of  real  friend- 
ship ;  but,  as  there  is  now  room  to  think,  con- 
tinued in  oilice  fur  political  reasons.  By  rais- 


SUPPLEMENT. 


305 


784. 
A.D. 


iiig   this  man  to  tlie   summit   of  power,  and    book 
styling  him  liis  associate  in  the  administra-  '^['^^^ 
tion,  Tiberius,  probably,  meant  to  throw  the 
odium  of  his  worst  and  most  oppressive  deeds 
on  the   favourite  minister :  with  his  assist-* 
ance,  perhaps,  he  thought  that    the  hated 
house   of  Germanicus  would  'be  more  easily 
crushed,  and,  in  consequence  of  that  measure, 
that  the  succession  to  the  imperial  dignity 
miirlit  be  secured  for  the  surviving  issue  of 
his  son  Drusus.     That  point  accomplished, 
a  politic  and  designing  prince,  like  Tiberius, 
would   not   be  at  a  loss   how  to  discard,  or 
even  ruin  the  minister,  who  had  conducted 
his   pernicious  measures  to  the  end  desired 
It  is  highly  probable,    that,  when   he  con- 
ferred  the  greatest    honours  on  Sejanus,  he 
had  even  then  planned  his  destruction.  While 
lie  raised  the  superstructure,  he  was  secretly 
emploj'cd  in  sapping  the  foundation.    Such 
was  the  genius  of  Tiberius  :   by, nature  subtle, 
dark,   designing,  and  alv/ays  mysterious,  he 
had  exercised  his  talents  in  the  school  of  po- 
litics, and  became,  by  constant  practice,  the 
great  master  of  craft  and  dissimulation.  What 
he  could  do  by  an  act  of  power,  he  chose 
rather  to  accomplish  by  the  crooked  means 

VOL.    II,  X 


706  SUPPLEMENT- 

of  deceit  and  stratagem.  There  never  oc- 
curred a  juncture,  in  which  he  was  not  able 
to  overwhehn  Sejanus,  by  barely  signifying 
his  will  and  pleasure.  An  obsequious  senate 
was  ready  either  to  pay  homage  to  the  fa- 
vourite, or  at  a  blow  to  dispatch  the  man, 
whom  they  beheld  with  envy  and  secret  de- 
testation. The  charge  against  Sejanus  was 
no  sooner  opened,  than  the  fathers,  without 
further  enquiry,  pronounced  his  final  doom. 
The  event  shewed  the  nature  of  that  as- 
sembly. 

41.  In  all  cases  of  importance,  when  either 
a  real  delinquent  was  to  be  brought  to  jus- 
tice, or  an  eminent  citizen  was  to  sufter  for 
his  talents  and  his  virtue,  we  have  seen  that 
Tiberius  affected  still  to  preserve  the  forms 
of  a  regular  constitution,  and  to  consider 
the  senate  as  the  supreme  court  of  judicature. 
From  the  decision  of  the  fathers  he  hoped  to 
borrow  some  decree  of  sanction  to  colour  the 
violence  of  his  own  proceedings.  This  po- 
licy, however,  was  confined  to  persons  of 
hiiih  consideration  in  the  state.  In  his  so- 
litary  island  lie  committed  petty  murders 
without  remorse,  or  ceremopy.  He  had  or- 
derccl  a  person,  M'hom  he  suspected  as  an  ac- 


SUPPLEMENT,  *  307 

Complice  in  the  destruction  of  his  son  Dru-    book 

V 

sus,  to    attend  his   presence  in   the  isle  of  'f^^.'V 
Capreae  ;  and  it  happened  that  he  had  invit-    ^'^ 
ed,  at  the  same  time,  a  friend  from  Rhodes,      ^^' 
on  a  visit  of  pleasure.     The  friend  arrived 
first,  and  no  sooner  set  his  foot  on  shore  than 
he  was  seized  by  the  guards,  and  as  a  delin- 
quent hurried  away,  and   put  to  the  rack. 
Tiberius  fa  J  heard  of  the  mistake,  but  was 
no  otherwise  moved,  than  to  say,  with  calm 
composure  :    *'  Since  you    have  begun  with 
*'  him,  you   may  finish  your  vv^ork,  and  put 
**  the  man  out  of  his  pain."     Upon  another 
occasion,  when  a  funeral  was  passing  by,  a 
person  of  some  pleasantry  said  to  the  corpse. 
Go,  and  inform  Augustus,  that  the  legacies, 
which  he  left  to  the  common  people,  have 
not  as  yet  been  paid.     Tiberius  ordered  the 
unfortunate  wit  to  be  brought  before  him, 
and,  after  paying  him  what  was  computed  to 
be  his  share,  sent  him  to  immediate  execu- 
tion, saying  at  the  same  time  :   "  Go,  and  tell 
*'  Augustus  f /'J,  that  you  have  received  your 
*'  legacy."     Not  a  day  passed  without  some 
new  proof  of  that  sullen  malignity,  which 
he  pampered   .  i  solitude,  and  converted,  at 
lenofth,    into  a  rooted  hatred    of  mankind. 


'508  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK  The  most  common  occurrences  irritated  bis 
passions,  and  discovered  the  rancour  of  his 
heart.  In  a  few  days  after  he  arrived  at 
Caprea^,  as  he  was  walking  in  a  sequestered 
part  of  tl]e  island,  a  fisherman,  eager  to 
mark  his  respect  for  the  emperor,  made  his 
way  over  rugged  steeps,  and  pointed  rocks, 
to  present  a  barbel  fc)  of  uncommon  size. 
Alarmed  by  this  intrusion  on  his  privacy, 
Tiberius  ordered  the  man's  face  to  be  well 
rubbed  with  his  own  barbel.  The  astonish- 
ed fisherman,  as  soon  as  lie  recovered  from 
his  frioht,  conoratulated  himself,  that  he  had 
not  brought  with  him  a  laro;e  crab,  which 
he  had  taken  on  the  coast.  Tiberius  called 
for  the  crab,  and  with  the  claws,  and  edge  of 
the  shell,  cut  and  mangled  the  poor  fellow's 
features,  till  he  made  his  countenance  a 
v/oeful  spectacle. 

These,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  are  mi- 
nute particulars,  and  may  be  tliought  unwor- 
thy of  the  historian's  pen  :  but,  when  they 
serve  to  produce  strokes  of  character,  and 
lay  open  the  inward  temper  of  the  man,  even 
such  materials  uvdy  be  allowed  to  merit  our 
attention.     The  merciless  disposition  of  Ti- 


784. 
A.  U. 


SUPPLEMENT.  309 

berius,  and    the    unrelentiiiii;    cruelty,    witli    book 
which   he  took  away  the  Uves  of  the  most  ' — ^^ 

''  A.  U.  C. 

ihustrious    citizens,     have    been   seen   in    a 
variety  of  tragic  issues,  and,   perhaps,  will 
be  placed  in   a  conspicuous  hght  by  those 
smaller  incidents,  which  the  diligence  of  other 
writers   has   collected,  and  which,    for  that 
reaso!!,  deserve  to  be  here  recorded.     Death 
was   considered  by   Tiberius  as  the  end  of 
human   sorrow,   and,    consequently,    as    the 
slightest  punishment  that  lie  could  inflict. 
Whenever  the   unhappy  prisoner  wished  to 
die,  and  lay  down  at   once  his  load  of  afflic- 
tion,  that  relief  was  sure  to  be  denied:  he 
was  condemned  to  groan  in  misery.    It  hap- 
pened  tlrat  a  man,  of  the  name  of  Carvilius 
(d),   fiudino-  himself  accused  of  some  real  or 
pretended  crime,  put  a  peri(jd  to  his  days. 
Being    informed  of  the   fact,   Tiberius   ex- 
claimed,  "  That  man  has  escaped  from  me." 
Upon  another  occasicjn,    he   thought  ftt   to 
make  all  his  prisoners  pass  in   review  before 
him.     One  of  them,   harassed  oul  v^ith  pain, 
petitioned  for   a  speed}^  execution.    "  No," 
said  Tiberius,   "  I  have  not  yet  made  up  my 
*'  quarrel  M'ith  you." 


42.   To  <j;ive  a  miimte  and  exact  account 


310  SUPPLEMENT. 

BOOK   of  all  his  cruelties,  is  not  the  purpose  of  this 
s^-v^  undertaking ;  and  yet,  nothing  that  affords 
"784.  ■  an  insioht  into  the  character  of  a  deliberate 
*3i.      and  systematic  tyrant,  can  with   propriety 
be   omitted.     His  band  of  astrologers,  and 
the  Greek  philosophers,  whom  he  retained 
at  his  court,  did  not  meet  with  more  kindness 
and  humanity,  than  the  unhappy  wretches, 
whom  he  tortured  in  prison,  and  threw  from 
rocks  and  precipices  into  the  sea.     He  en- 
tered into  conversation  with  Zeno  Ca)y  a  man 
celebrated  for  his  acquisitions  in  literature, 
and  in  all  the  various  branches  of  science. 
The  philosopher  was  curious  in  his  choice  of 
words,  and  spoke  with  a  degree  of  elegance, 
that  bordered  on  too  much  refinement.    Sur- 
prised at  some  of  his  expressions,  Tiberius 
asked  him,  which  of  the  Greek  dialects  sup- 
plied him  with  such  nice  and  difficult  phm-p 
seology  ?   Zeno  told  him,  the  Doric,  which, 
it  seems,  was  the  language  in  use  at  the  is!e 
of  Rhodes.    Tiberius  was  enraged  at  the  an- 
swer :  he  conceived  it   to  be  a  sarcastic  al- 
lusion to  the  time  of  his    residence  in  that 
island,   and,  in  his  rage,  banished  the  philo- 
sopher to  the  isle  of  Cinaria, 

^eleucus  fbj,  the  grammarian,  was  also  in-«   ' 


SUPPLEMENT.  311 

vited  to  enjo}'  the  sweets  of  meditation  in  the    book 
-soHtary  retreats  of  Caprece.     lie  found  that  ';J'7^ 
the  emperor  came  to  his  evening  repast,  well    ^^^^ 
provided  with   abstract  questions,  which  he      ^** 
had  oleaned  from  his  morning  studies.     In 
order  to  be  prepared  for  all  dithculties,  the 
pliilosopher  made  it  his   business  to  learn, 
from  the  attendants   of  the  emperor,  -what 
authors  their  master  chose  for  his  amusement 
in  the  course  of  the  day.     In  consequence  of 
this  intelligence,  no  question  came  upon  him 
by  surprise.  Tiberius  heard  of  the  stratagem, 
and  was  fired  with  indignation.    He  thought 
it  an  attempt  to  pry  into  his  actions  with  in- 
qiiisitive  eyes.    The  philosopher,  now  consi- 
dered as  a  spy,  received  orders  to  appear  no 
more   at  court,   and,  in  a  short  time  after- 
wards, was  put  to  death. 

Historians  relate  anotlier  transaction, which, 
by  a  difference  of  opinion  among  themselves, 
they  have  rendered  somewhat  doubtful :  but 
since  they  have  transmitted  it  c\s  a  problem 
to  exercise  the  judgment  of  posterity,  it  may, 
with  propriety,  be  inserted  in  this  place,  and 
left  to  try  its  fortune  with  the  reader.  Anian, 
whose  name  is  not  mentioned,  but,  as  it 
seems,  an  architect  by  profession,    was  em- 


312  SUPPLEMENT, 

BOOK  ployed  by  Tiberius,  to  repair  an  arch,  that 
was  tottering  to  its  fall,  lie  succeeded  in 
the  work,  to  the  surprise  of  all  who  beheld 
it ;  and,  after  receiving  a  reward  for  his  skill 
and  ingenuity,  was,  by  the  jealous  malignity 
of  the  emperor,  sent  into  banishment.  Ad- 
dicted to  the  mechanic  arts,  and  fond  of 
useful  inventions,  this  man  found  the  method 
of  manufacturing  glass  fcj  to  a  degree  of  per- 
fection unknown  before.  Having  prepared 
his  materials,  and  made  a  vase  of  the  most 
beatifid  comnosition,  he  went  to  present  it 
to  Tinerius  in  the  isle  of  CapreiB,  little  doubt- 
ing but  that,  for  so  fine  a  piece  of  work- 
manship, he  should  obtain  his  pardon.  Ti- 
berius had  a  circle  of  his  courtiers  round  him. 
The  trajisparent  vessel  excited  the  admiration 
of  all.  The  artist  received  it  from  the  hands 
of  the  eiiipcror,  and  to  sliew  the  wonders  of 
his  skill,  dashed  it  on  the  ground.  The  conir 
pany  was  alarmed,  but,  in  a  short  time, 
stood  astonisJied  to  see,  that,  instead  of  Ayr 
in«;  into  fra<2;ments,  it  was  onlv  bent  and 
flattened  in  the  part  that  stugk  against  the 
ground.  Their  surprize  was  still  more  in- 
creased, when  they  saw  the  ingenious  me- 
chanic take  out  his  hammer,  and  restore  the 
glass  to  its   orio'inal  form,   as   if  it  had  the 


784. 

AD 

31. 


SUPPLEMENT.  315 

flexibility  of  a   malleable   metal.      Tiberius   ^^ok 

^  V. 

desired  to  know,  whether  he  had  communi- ^J;^'^^^ 
cated  the  secret  of  iiis  art  to  any  other  per-  ^^^ 
son  ;  and,  being  assured  tliat  no  one  knew 
it,  he  ordered  him  to  be  hurried  avray  to  in- 
stant execution,  giving  for  his  reason,  that  a 
manufacture,  which  could  transmute  ordi- 
nary ingredients  into  so  fine  a  form,  would 
lessen  the  value  of  brass,  and  gold,  and  silver, 
and  ought,  for  that  reason,  to  be  abolished 
for  ever. 

43.  Such  were  the  repeated  acts  of  fell 
and  savage  cruelty,  which  Tiberius  hoped  to 
hide   in  the  solitude  of  Caprea^.     Rome,   in 
tlie  mean  time,   was  a  scene  of  slaughter, 
where  superior  talents,  virtue,  truth,  and  in- 
nocence,  perished  by  the  stroke  of  lawless 
power.     The  charge  of  violated  majesty  was 
the   signal  of  destruction,  and  a  letter  from 
Capreai  was  a  warrant  for  execution.     The 
senate  obeyed   tlie  mandate ;  no  rule  of  law 
prevailed;  justice  was  trampled   under  foot; 
reason  and  humanity  wave  never  heard  ;   and 
all  who  did  not  dispatch  themselves,   were 
sure  to  perish  by  the  judgment  of  a  corrupt 
tribunal.   The  islands  were  crowded  with  il- 
1 


314  SUPPLEMENT. 

^°J^^   lustrioLis  exiles,   and  the  Tiber  Vv'as   disco- 
loured with  blood.     After  the   death  of  Se* 
janus,  the  fury  of  the  emperor  rose  to  the 
highest  pitch,   and  at  Rome  the  people  fol- 
lowed his  example.     Nothing  could  appease 
the  spirit  which  had  been  roused  against  all, 
who  stood  in  any  degree  connected  with  the 
unhappy  favourite.      Men   of  the  first  dis- 
tinction, senators  as  well  as  Roman  knights, 
were  seized  by  the  tyrant's  order;  some  hur- 
ried to  a  dungeon,  and  others  detained  in  the 
custody  of  the  magistrates.     None  escaped, 
except  such  as  stooped  to  the  infamous  trade 
of  informing  against  others.     Numbers,  who 
had  been  formerly  under  prosecution,  and, 
in  the  hour  of  danger,  were  protected  by  Se- 
janus,  were  now  cited  to  appear,  and  execut- 
ed without  mercy.     Neither  rank,  nor  sex, 
nor  age  was  safe.     Several,   to  avoid  a  sen- 
tence of  condemnation,  and  save  their  for- 
tunes for  their  children,  died  by  their  own 
hands.     Some  had  the  courage  to  set  their 
enemies  at  defiance,  arid  with  becoming  mag- 
nanimity  stood  forth  to  assert    their  inno- 
cence,  determined,   since  their  ftite  was  un- 
avoidable, to  preserve,  to  the  last,  the  ho- 
nour of  a  fair  and  upright  character, 


{    315    ) 


31. 


THE  ANNALS  OF  TACITUS. 

VI.  In  the  course  of  tliese  prosecutions,  book 
no  less  than  four-and-forty  speeches  were  -^"^7^ 
made  before  the  senate  ;  some  of  them  die-  2^1; 
tated  by  fear,  and  others  by  servile  adulation, 
the  epidemic  vice  of  the  times.  Amidst  the 
general  wreck,  a  senator  (a)  of  distinguish- 
ed eminence,  and  superior  dignity  of  mind, 
findin<i  himself  doomed  to  destruction,  called 
a  meeting  of  his  friends,  and  spoke  to  the 
following  effect.  "  There  was  a  time,  when 
**  no  human  prudence  could  foresee,  that 
■'  the  friendship,  which  subsisted  between 
*'  Sejanus  and  me,  w^ould  either  prove  a  re- 
*'  proach  to  him,  or  a  calamity  to  myself.  A 
•'  reverse  of  fortune  has  clian2:ed  the  scene. 
''  And  yet,  even  at  this  day,  the  great  per- 
''  son  who  chose  St^anus  for  his  colleague, 
*'  and  even  for  his  son-in-law,  does  not  con- 
*'  demn  his  own  partiality.  Numbers  there 
"  were,  who  courted  the  minister  in  his  me- 
*'  ridian  splendour,  but  in  the  moment  of  his 
"  decline  turned  against  him,  with  treachery 
^*  and  base  ingratitude.     The  first  was  their 


3 


16 


THE    ANNALS 


servility  ;  the  last  was  their  crime.  Which 
of  the  two  evils  is  the  Avorst,  to  suffer,  on 
the  one  hand,  for  a  faithful  attachment, 
or,  on  the  other,  to  blacken  the  character 
of  the  man  whom  we  have  loved,  I  shall 
not  decide.  The  dilemma  is  dreadful.  For 
myself  I  w\\\  not  poorly  wait  to  feel  either 
the  cruelty  or  the  compassion  of  any  man. 
While  I  yet  am  free  ;  while  I  enjoy  the 
congratulations  of  my  own  conscience,  I 
will  act  as  becomes  a  man,  and  outstrip 
the  malice  of  my  enemies.  To  you,  my 
friends,  this  is  my  last  request :  Pursue 
me  not  with  tears  and  vain  regret:  con- 
sider  death  as  an  escape  from  the  miseries 
of  life ;  and  add  nw  name  to  those  heroic 
spirits,  Avho  chose  to  die  with  glory,  ra- 
ther than  survive  to  see  the  ruin  of  their 
country." 


VII.  After  this  discourse,  he  passed  a 
considerable  part  of  the  day  in  calm  serenity, 
receiving'  the  visits  of  his  friends,  and  takiu"* 
leave  of  such  as  chose  to  depart.  With  a 
large  circle  round  him,  while  all  eyes  beheld 
with  admiration  the  imdaunted  courage, 
which  appeared  in  his  countenance,  and  gave 
reason  to  hope  that  his  end  was  not  so  near. 


OF    TACITUS.  317 

he  fell  upon  the   point  of  his  sword,  wliicli    eook 

he  had  concealed  under  his  mantle.    Tiberius  ^^.^ 

A.  u.  a 

wao'ed     no  war    against    his   memory.    To      '^''• 

^  ^  -^  AD. 

Bla3sus,  when  that  officer  could  no  longer       ^■^^• 
speak  for  himself,  he  behaved  with  inveterate 
rancour  ;   but  this   upright   citizen   was  al- 
lowed to  rest  in  peace. 

VIII.  Pub  LI  us  ViTELLiusfr/J  and  Pom- 
ponius  Secundus  were  soon  after  cited  to  ap- 
pear before  the  senate.  Vitellius  had  been 
entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  public  trea- 
sury, and  the  military  chest.  He  was  charg- 
ed with  a  design  to  surrender  both  for  the 
service  of  the  conspirators,  with  intent  to 
overturn  the  government.  The  allegation 
against  Pomponius  was  his  intimacy  with 
iElius  Gallus,  wlio,  innnediately  after  the  ex- 
ecution of  Sejanus,  fled  to  the  gardens  of  the 
accused,  deeming  that  place  his  safest  sanc- 
tuary. This  charge  was  supported  by  Con- 
fidius,  a  man  of  praetorian  rank.  In  this 
distress,  those  two  eminent  men  had  no  re- 
source but  the  magnanimity  of  their  brotliers, 
who  generously  stood  forth,  and  gave  se- 
curity for  th(jir  appv'jarance.  Vitellius,  ha- 
rassed out  bv  various  delays,  and  at  length 
weary  of  alternate  hopes  and  fears,  called  for 


5J18  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  a  pen-knife,  as  if  going  to  write,  and  opened 
his  veins,  but  with  so  sHght  a  wound,  that 
he  continued  to  linger  for  some  time  longer. 
lie  died  of  a  broken  heart.  Pomponius,  who 
was  distinguished  no  less  by  his  genius,  than 
by  the  gaiety  and  elegance  of  his  man- 
ners, supported  himself  in  adversity  with  un- 
daunted spirit,  and  survived  Tiberius, 

IX.  The  fury  of  the  populace  began  to 
subside,  tlie  blood  already  spilt  having  well 
nigh  appeased  their  indignation.  The  fathers, 
however,  did  not  relent.  Two  children  of 
Sejanus,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  still  survived 
the  massacre  of  their  family.  They  were 
both  seized  by  order  of  the  senate,  and  drag-^ 
ged  to  prison.  The  son  was  grown  up  to 
3'ears  of  discretion  ;  but  the  daugther,  as  yet 
a  tender  infant,  was  insensible  of  her  sad  con- 
dition. She  was  hurried  throush  the  streets, 
asking  in  a  tone  of  simplicity,  "  What 
*'  fault  she  had  committed?  Whither  they 
*'  were  leading  her  ?  Tell  her  her  offence,  and 
"  she  would  be  guilty  of  the  like  no  more  : 
"  they  might  chastise  her,  and  she  would  pro- 
*'  mise  to  be  good."  A  virgin (^^/J  sentenced 
to  capital  punislmient  was,  at  that  time,  a 
thing   unheard  of  at  Rome  :  but  we  are  told 


OF  TACITUS.  319 

by  writers  of  good  authority,  that  to  satisfy 
the  forms  of  law,  a  detestable  artifice  was 
employed.  The  executioner  deflowered  her 
first,  and  strangled  her  afterwards.  Her  bro- 
ther suffered  at  the  same  time.  Their  bodies 
were  thrown  into  the  Gemonuv,  or  the  com- 
mon charnel,  where  the  vilest  malefactors 
were  exposed. 

X.  About  this  time  a  report  was  spread 
through  Greece  and  Asia,  that  Drusus,  the  son 
of  Germanicus,  had  been  seen  in  the  islands 
called  the  Cyclades,  and  afterwards  on  the 
continent.  A  young  man,  it  seems,  about 
the  age  of  Drusus,  assumed  the  name  of  that 
unfortunate  prince.  The  emperor's  freed- 
men  encouraged  the  impostor,  intending  to 
favour  him  at  fu'st,  and  betray  him  in  the 
end.  A  name  so  celebrated  as  that  of  Dru- 
sus drew  together  a  lar^e  conflux  of  the  com- 
mon  people.  The  genius  of  the  Greeks, 
fond  of  novelty,  and  at  all  times  addicted  to 
the  marvellous,  helped  to  propagate  the 
story.  The  prince,  they  said,  had  escaped 
from  his  confiement,  and  was  then  on  hi^ 
way  to  head  the  armies  of  A.^ia,  formerly 
commanded  bv  his  father.  With  that  force 
he  intended  to  make  himself  master  of  ^Egypt, 


320  THE   ANNAlS 

BOOK  or  of  Syria.  Such  was  the  tale  dressed  up 
by  the  lively  genius  of  the  Greeks.  What 
they  invented,  they  were  willing  to  believe. 
The  hero  of  this  romance  had  his  train  of 
followers,  and  the  wishes  of  the  multitude 
favoured  his  cause.  The  impostor  flushed 
with  success,  began  to  anticipate  his  future 
grandeur. 

i 
Meanwliile,  Poppa^usSabinus,  theprocon- 
sular  governor  of  jNIacedonia  and  Greece,  but 
engaged  at  that  time  in  the  former  province, 
received  an  account  of  this  wild  attempt.  He 
resolved  to  crush  the  adventurer  without  de- 
lay, and,   accordingly  having  passed  the  two 
bays  of  Toronis  and  Thermes,  he  crossed  over 
to  Euboea,  an  island  in  the  yEgean  sea.  From 
that  place  he  sailed  to  Pn':rum,  on  the  coast 
of  Athens,  and  thence  to  Corinth  and  the  ad- 
joining isthmus.    He  there  embarked  on  the 
opposite  sea,  and  steered  his  course  to  Nico- 
poiis,  a    Roman    colony,  where   he  was  in- 
formed that  the  impostor,  when  interrogated 
by  persons  of  skill  and  judgment,   declared 
himself  the  son  of  Marcus  Silanus.  After  this 
discover}',  thenumber  of  his  adherentsfalling 
off,  he  went  on  board  avessel,  with  intent,  as 
he  himself  gave  out,  to  pass  over  into  Italy. 


784. 

AD. 

31. 


01     TACITUS.  S21 

Sabiiiiis  sent  this  account  to  Tiberius.    The    book 
affair  ended  here  :  of  its  origin,  progress,  or  '-^ 
fniai  issue,  nothing  further  has  reached  our 
k no v\' ledge  ((i)- 

XI.  To^vARDs  the  close  of  tlie  year,  warm 
dissensions  broke  out  between  the  two  con- 
suls.    Their  animosities,    which    had    been 
festering  for  some  time,  were  now  gathered 
to  a  liead.  Trio  was  by  nature  restless,  bold, 
and  turbulent.     He  had  been  formerly  exer- 
cised   in   the   practice    of  the   bar  (a)^  and 
thence   more    ready    to  provoke  hostilities. 
He  cliarged  his  colleague  with  too  much  le- 
nity towards  the  accomplices  of  Sejanus.  Re- 
gulus  was  a  man  of  moderation ;  if  not  in- 
sulted, modest;   if  provoked,  neither  stupid, 
nor  unwilling  to  resent  an  injury.     Not  con- 
tent with  refuting  his  adv^ersary,   he  threat- 
ened to  arraign  him,  as  an  accr)mplice  in  the 
late  conspira^cy.  The  fathers  interposed  their 
good  offices  to  compromise  a  quarrel,  v/hich 
was  hkely  to  end  in  the   ruin  of  both  ;  but 
the  ill  will  between  the  two  consuls  was  not 
to  be  appeased.  They  continued  at  variance, 
provoking  and   threatening  each  other  dur- 
ini2;  tlie  rest  of  the  vear. 

VOL.     II.  Y 


THE 


ANNALS 


OF 


TACITUS. 


BOOK  If. 


Y    2 


CONTENTS. 

BOOK  VI. 

I.   TlTE  secret  and  lihidinom  passions  of  Tiberius  in  his 
soUtari/   retreat  at   Caprece.     II     The  rage  and   vio' 
lence  of  prosecutions.     The  statues  of  the  j/ounger  Li- 
via  demolished,  and  the  effects  ofSejanus  confiscated.  IV". 
Latinius  Latiaris  accused  and  condemned.      V.  Cotta 
Messalinus  saved,  hi/  appealing  to  the  emperor.     VI. 
Remarkable  expressions  in  a  letter  from  Tiberius,  paint- 
ing  the   horrors  of   his  mind.     VIII.  A   spirited  and 
noble  defence  made  bj/  Marcus    Terentius.     IX.  Ait' 
nius  Pollio,  Appius   Silanus,  Scaurus  Mamercus  and 
others  accused  :  the  hearing  reserved  for  the  emperor. 
X.  A  i€oman  suffers  fur  shedding  tears  for   her   son, 
J^te  death  of  Lucius  Piso,  governor  of  Rome,  and  his 
excellent  character.     XI.  The  office  of  P reefed,  or  gO" 
vernor  of  Rome ;  its  origin,  and  progress.     XII.   IJe- 
hates  about  the  Si/billine  books,  and  the  restrictions  to  be 
observed  in   admitting  them.     XIII.  Seditions  on    ac- 
count of  the^scarcit^  of  corn.     XIV.  Roman  knights 
charged  with  a  conspiracy,  condemned,   and  executed, 
XV.   Two  daughters  of  Germanicus   married  to   Lw 
cius  Cassias    and  Marcus   Vinicius.     XVI.  Prosecu' 
lions  against    usurers,  and  new  regulations  to  repress 
than.     Bj/   the    liberality  of  Tiberius,   public   credit 
restored.      XVIII.    Accusations    on    the    law  of  ma- 
jestj/.     A   number  of  the  confederates  of  Sejanus  exe- 
cuted at    once.      XX.  Cuius    Ccesar    (otherwise  Ca- 


CONTENTS. BOOK  Vl. 

tlgula)  married  to  Claudia.  His  manners,  dissimu* 
lation,  and  character.  Tiberias  foretells  tite  reign 
of  Galba.  He  studies  tkc  arts  of  yrognosti cation  un- 
der TiiRAsuLLus.  A  remarhahle  story  relating  to 
that  astrologer.  XXIII.  The  tragic  death  of  Drusus, 
son  of  Gerjnanicus,  and  the  violent  end  of  his  mother, 
Agrippina.  XXAT.  Vohmtari/  death  of  Nerva,  the 
great  laic f/er,  and  his  reasons.  The  fate  of  other  illus- 
irious  men.  XXV'III.  A  phoenix  seen  in  Egj/pt.icith 
an  account  of  that  miraculous  bird.  XXIX.  Vcfiious 
nccusrdions  aud  executions.  XXXI.  Deputies  from 
the  Parthian  nobilitt/,  requesting  a  nezc  hing.  Tiberius 
sends  two,  one  after  the  other.  The  command  in  the 
east  given  to  Lucius  ViteUius  :  his  character.  XXXIII. 
War  between  the  Parthians  and  Armenians.  Arta- 
hanus  driven  from  his  throne  by  the  Parthians :  he 
seeks  refuge  in  Scj/thia.  Ti  rid  axes  placed  on  the 
throne  by  the  conduct  of  ViteUius.  XXXVIII.  Vio- 
lent prosecutio7?s  cd  Pome,  and  numbers  suffer.  The 
death  and  will  af  Fulcinius  Trio.  XXXIX.  Death 
and  character  of  Poppa:us  Sabinus.  XL.  Vibulenus 
Agrippa  poisons  himself  in  the  senate.  Tigranes,  for- 
merly  Icing  of  Armenia,  is  put  to  death  ;  and  also  se- 
veral others.  JEmilia  Lepida  puts  an  end  to  her 
life.  XLl .  Pexolt  of  the  CliUeans,  a  people  of  Cap- 
padocia;  and  their  defeat.  Tiridates  deposed  b/y  the 
Parthians,  and  Artabanus  once  more  restored.  XL\  . 
A  dreadful  f  re  at  Pome,  and  part  of  the  Circus  con- 
sunted.  The  "^munificence  of  Tiberius  on  that  occasion. 
XL VI.  Deliberations  of  Tiberius  about  naming  a 
successor.  His  knozclcdge  of  Caligula  s  character,  and 
his  prophetic  words  about  his  violent  death.  XLVII. 
Tht  seeds  of  new  prosecutions  laid  at  Rome.     XL\'III. 


CONTENTS. BOOK    VI. 

The  noble  speech  of  Lucius  Arruntius,  and  his  volun^ 
tan/  death.  L.  The  lust  illness,  dissimulalion,  and 
death  of  Tiberius.  LI.  His  origin,  progress ^  and 
character. 


Thesis  transactions  include  near  six  j/tdrs. 

Years         Of 

Rome — Christ.  Consuls. 

r-Q-       ca'i)  Cneius   Domitius   Oenobarhus,  M.   Furius 
I  Lamulus  bcrwonuinus. 

786  33     Ser.  Sulpicius  Galba,  L.    Cornelius  Sulla. 

787  34     Paulus  Fabius  Pcrsicus,  Lucius   VitelUus. 
78S      So     C.  Cestius  GciUus,  M.  Sertitius  Nonianus. 

789  116     Sext.  Papinius  AUenius,  Quitdus  Plautius. 

790  ''7  ^  ^"^'^^^   Acerronius    Proculu^y  Caius  Pon^ 

\  tius  Kigrinus. 


THE 

ANNALS 

OF 

TACITUS. 


BOOK  VL 


I. 

CnEIUS  DO.^IITIUS  CaJ  and  CamiUus    book 
Scriboniaims  succeeded   to    the  consulship.  ^;f'^^^ 
They  had  not  been  long  in  office,  when  Ti-    ]^%^ 
berius  crossed  the   narrow  sea  that    divides      ^'^' 
the  isle  of  Caprea:  from  Surrentum,  and  sail- 
ing along  the  coast  of  Campania,   made  his 
approach  towards  Rome,  in  doubt  Avhether 
to  enter  the  city  ;  or,  perhaps  because  he  had 
determined  otlierwise,  chooshig  to  rai^e  ex- 
pectations, wliicli  he  never  meant  to  gratify. 
He  went  on  shore  at  various  places  ;  visited 
Ills  gard'-ns  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber  ;  and 
at  lengtii,  having  amused   the  people  with 
false  appearances,  went  back  to  hide  himself. 


330  I' HE    ANXALS 

BOOK    his  vices,  and  sensualities,  amidst  the  rocks  of 

VI. 

Capreiis.     In  that  place  he  gave  a  loose  to 
liis  inordinate  appetites,  a  tyrant  even  in  his 
pleasures.    With  the  pride  of  eastern  despot- 
ism, he  seized   tlie  young  men  of  ingenuous 
birth,  and  forced  them  to  yield  to  his  brutal 
gratifications.    Elegance  of  shape  and  beauty 
of  feature  were  not  his  only  incentives.    The 
blush  of  modesty  served  as  a  provocative  ; 
and  to  stain  the  honoiu'  of  respectable  fami- 
lies, gave  a  zest  to    liis  enjoyments.     New 
modes  of  sensuality  Vv'ere  invented,  and  new 
terms  for  scandalous  refniements  in  lascivi- 
ous pleasure.     Then,  for  the  first  time,  were 
introduced    into  the    Roman    Ian<>;uai>e  the 
words  Sellarii  (^J  ^^^^  Spintri^  ;  two 
words  of  the  vilest  import,  signifying  at  once 
the  place  of  clandestine  vice,  and  the  unna- 
tural experiments  of  infamous  prostitution. 
Slaves  were  employed  to  provide  objects  of 
desire,  w^ith  full   commission  to  allure   the 
venal  v/ith  presents,  and  to  conquer  the  re- 
luctant by  threats  and  violence.     If  friends 
interposed  in  the  defence  of  youth  and  inno- 
cence ;  if  a  parent  attempted  to  protect  his 
child,  ruiiian  force  was  exercised.     Compul- 
sion and  captivity  followed.     Like  slaves  by 

conquest,  all  were  at  the  mercy  of  a  detest- 

1 


OF    TACITUS.  331 

aljle  crew,  whose  business  it  was  to  pander  book 
for  the  passions  of  their  master.  )r^^ 

785. 
A.D. 

II.  At  Rome,  in  the  mean  time,  the  guilt  ^^• 
of  the  younger  Livia  fa  J,  as  if  she  had  not 
been  sufficiently  punished,  was  resumed  with 
warmth  and  violence.  The  senate  thunder- 
ed forth  decrees  ai2;ainst  her  memory,  and  her 
very  statues.  The  property  of  Sejanus  was 
ordered  to  be  removed  from  the  public  trea- 
sury C^J^  to  the  cofters  of  the  prince ;  as  if,  in 
either  place,  it  would  not  have  been  equally 
at  his  disposal.  TheScipios,  the  Silani,  and 
the  Cassii  were  the  authors  of  this  alteration. 
They  proposed  the  measure,  and  enforced  it 
with  their  best  al^ility,  but  with  little  vari- 
ance either  in  the  lanouaoe,  or  the  argument, 

Tocjonius  Gallus  had  the  ill-timed  ambi- 
tion  to  mix  his  name,  however  obscure  and 
insiiiniticant,  with  men  of  the  hiohest  rank. 
He  made  himself  ridiculous  ;  and  malignity, 
for  that  reason,  v/as  willing  to  listen  to  him. 
lie  proposed  that  out  of  a  number  of  se- 
nators, chosen  by  the  prince,  twenty  should 
be  drawn  by  lot,  to  serve  under  arms,  as  a 
guard  to  Tiberius,  whenever  he  should  choose 
to  honour  the  senate  with  hi;j  presence.  This 


352  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    extravagant  motion  sprung  from  the  folly  of  a 
' — — '  man,  who  was  weak  enough  to  believe  Tc) 

A.  U.  C.  -^  ^      ^ 

785.     that  the  emperor  was  in  earnest,  when  he  de- 
32.      sired,  by  letter,  that  one  of  the  consuls  should 
be  sent  to  guard  him  on  his  way  from  Capreas 
to    Rome.     Tiberius,   according  to  his  cus- 
tom,  mingling  a  vein  of  irony  with  serious 
business,  thanked  the  fathers  for  this  mark 
of  their  care.     He  desired   to   knoAv,  ''  who 
*'  were  to  be  elected  into  the  body-guard, 
*'  and  who  rejected  ?  Was  it  to  be  an  office 
'  **  for  life,  or  by  rotation  ?  Were  they  to  be 
*'  draughted  from  the  younger  part  of  the 
*'  senate,  or  to  consist  of  such  as  had  passed 
*'  through  the  gradations  of  the  magistracy  ? 
**  ]\Iust  they  be  actual  magistrates,  or  men 
"  in  a  private  station  ?  x\nd  again,  av  hen  the 
*'  senators,  sword   in  hand  fdj,  were  drawn 
*'  up  rank  and  file  in  the  porch  of  the  senate- 
*'  house,  what  kind  of  scene  would  that  mot- 
''  ley  appearance  present  to   the  people  ?  A 
*'  life,  which  must  be  thus  defended,  was  not 
*'  worth  his  care."     In  this  strain  of  raillery 
he    replied    to    Togonius,    adding    nothing 
harsh,  and  not  a  word  of  serious  tendency  to 
over-rule  the  motion. 

III.    Junius  Gallio   (aj  was  not  let  off 


OP   TACITUS.  S33 


:>-. 


on  the  same  easy  terms.     lie  had  given  his    book 
opinion  that  the   soldiers  of  the    priEtorian  ^-p' — ' 
band,    having-    served    the    requisite    time,      '^^- 
should  enjoy  the  privilege  of  sitting  on  the 
fourteen  rows  f/> J  of  the   theatre,   appropri- 
ated   to   the  IJoman    knights.     Against  the 
mover  of  this  innovation,  Tiberius  launched 
out  witli    vehemence,  and,   though    absent, 
with  all  the  ardour  of  a  personal   erqjostula- 
tion.     He  asked,  "  what  business  has  Gallio 
*'  to  interfere  with  the  military  line  ?  Why 
"  intermeddle  with   those,  whose  duty  it   is 
''  to  receive  their  orders,  and   the  reward  of 
'*  their  service,  from  the  emperor  only  ?  A 
"  new  plan  of  pohcy,  unknown  to  the  wisdom 
*'  of  Augustus,  has  been  broached  by  the  su^ 
*•  perior  genius  of  this  able  statesman  !  Per- 
'*'  haps,  it  was  the  project  of  a  man,  bred  in 
"  the  school  of  Sejaims,  with  a  view  to  kindle 
"  the  flame  of  discord,  and,  under  colour  of 
"  dispensing  military  honours,  to  seduce  the 
"  affections  of  the  army,  to  the  ruin  of  disci- 
"  pline  and  all  good  order."     Such  were  the 
wages  earned  by  flattery.    Gallio  intended  to 
pay  his  coiu't,  and,  for  his  attempt,  was  ex- 
pelled the  senate,  and  banished  out  of  Ita'y 
He  retired  to  Lesbos  ;  but  it  being  suggest- 
ed, that,  in  the  cliarming  scenes  of  that  dtr 


334  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK    liiihtful  island,  what  was  intended  as  a  pu- 
VI.        ^  .      ,  ^ 

i^^v — )  nishment,  would  be,  in   fact,   a  pleasins:  re- 

785.     conipence,  he  was   brougiit   back  to  Home, 

92.      and    ordered  into   close  confinement  in  the 

house  of  a  civil  maLilstrate. 


In  the  letter  which  directed  this  proceed- 
ing, Tiberius  marked  out  Sextius  Paconia- 
luis,  of  praetorian  rank,  as  another  victim. 
The  fathers  received,  with  pleasure,  tlie  con- 
demnation of  a  man,  whom  they  knew  to  be 
of  a  bold  and  turbulent  spirit,  willing  to  em- 
bark in  any  scheme  of  iniquity,  and  infamous 
for  their  pernicious  talent  of  worming  him- 
self into  the  secrets  of  others.  ^Vlien  Sejanus 
bes^an  to  meditate  the  destruction  of  Cali- 
gula,  he  chose  this  man  for  his  confidential 
^agent.  That  dark  conspiracy  being  now  laid 
open,  every  breast  was  fired  with  indigna- 
tion ;  and  if  the  miscreant  had  not  prevented 
his  fate,  by  offering  to  make  important  dis- 
coveries, the  senate  was  ready  to  adjudge 
]iim  to  instant  death. 

IV.  The  person,  against  whom  he  inform- 
ed, was  the  well-known  Latinius  Latiaris.  The 
accuser  and  the  accused  were  objects  of  pub- 
lic execration  :  and  the  spectacle,  which  they 


OF    TACITUS,  S3o 

botli  Dreseiitcd,  diffused  a  universal  satisfac-  book 
tioii.  Latiaris  fa  J,  the  reader  will  remem- 
ber, was  the  chief  in.^trument  in  the  ruin  of 
Sabinus.  Of  tlie  several  actors  in  tliat  foul 
transaction  h.e  was  the  fu'st  that  paid  the  for-* 
feit  of  his  crimes.  In  the  course  of  this  day's 
debate,  llaterius  Agrippa  attacked  the  con- 
suls of  tiie  preceding  year.  ''  After  mutual 
"  accusations,  vviiy  did  tliey  now  remain  si- 
*'  lent  ?  Fear,  and  their  own  consciences, 
■'  have  made  them  compromise  all  matters 
*'  in  dirspute.  They  are  joined  in  bonds  of 
*'  the  strictest  union.  But  the  senate  heard 
*'  their  mutual  accusations,  and  ou"ht  now 
*•'  to  institute  a  serious  encuiiry."  Ile^'uhis 
replied,  that  in  due  time  it  was  his  intention 
to  bring  the  business  forward,  but  he  waited 
for  the  presence  of  the  emperor.  Trio  ob- 
served, that  their  hostilities  were  nothirif>' 
more  thin  the  jealousy  that  often  happens 
between  colleagues  in  oiilce  ;  but  such  petty- 
disputes  ought  not  to  be  revived.  This  did 
not  satisfy  Agrippa.  lie  still  persisted,  till 
Sanquinius  Maxnnus,  of  consular  rank,  rose 
to  allay  the  ferment.  He  entreated  the  fa- 
thers to  be  cautious  how  they  nudtiplied  the 
( ares  of  the  emperor.  To  be  ingenious  in 
framing  hcw  complaints,  was  not  their  pro- 


S:iG  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  vince.  They  miglit  rely  on  the  ^visdom  of  Ti- 
berius, comprehensive  as  they  knew  it  to  be, 
and  equal  to  the  task  of  remedying  every  evil. 
In  consequence  of  this  conciUating  speech, 
Iiegulus  remained  in  full  security,  and  the 
ruin  of  Trio  (bj  was  deferred  to  a'fmlher  day. 
As  to  Ilatcrius  Agrippa,  the  violence  of  his 
conduct  made  liini  more  than'cver  an  object 
of  the  public  hatred.  Too  indolent  for  a  life 
of  business,  he  passed  his  days  in  sleep,  and 
his  nights  in  riot  and  debaucherv.  His  vices 
made  him  an  enervated  sluggard,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  screened  him  from  the  crueltv  of 

ft/ 

a  jealous  and  unforgiving  tyrant.  And  yet 
this  man,  amidst  the  joys  of  wine,  and  in  tlie 
harlot's  lap,  had  the  malevolence  to  plan  the 
ruin  of  the  most  illustrious  citizens. 

V.  Messa LINUS  CoTTA,  thc  ready  autlior 
of  the  most  sanguinary  measures,  was  thc  next 
person  accused.  This  prosecution  called  forth 
a  multitude  of  enemies.  All  were  eao'er  to  have 
their  full  blow  at  a  man  long  known  and  de- 
tested. The  charge  against  him  was,  that,  to 
fix  on  Cains  C:"esar  fc/J  the  imputation  of  un- 
natural vices,  he  had  called  the  vounii;  oritice 
l)y  the  female  name  of  Caia,  and,  at  a  ban- 
quet given  by  the  poiitilfsj  in  honour  of  the 


OF   TACITUS.  337 

birtli-day  of  Li  via,  he  called  that  feast  a 
fbj  funeral  entertainment.  It  was  furthe^' 
alleged,  that,  in  a  law-^uit  with  ]\Ianius  Le- 
pidus,  and  Lucius  Arruntius,  he  complained 
of  the  weight  and  influence  of  his  adversa- 
ries,  but  said  at  the  same  time,  "  Let  them 
"  boast  of  their  interest  witli  the  senate  ; 
"  my  little  friend  Tiberius  will  outweigh 
*'  them  all."  In  support  of  this  charge,  the 
first  men  in  Rome  were  wiliin"'  witnesses. 
Cotta  knew  how  to  baffle  his  enemies.  He 
removed  tlie  cause  by  appeal  to  the  emperor. 
Tiberius,  in  a  letter  to  the  senate,  made  the 
apology  of  Cotta  :  he  stated  the  friendship, 
which  had  lon^'  subsisted  between  them,  and 
the  obligations,  by  which  he  himself  was 
bound.  lie  concluded  with  a  req-uest,  that 
words' casually  spoken,  and  sallies  of  viva- 
city in  the  moments  of  convivial  mirth,  might 
not  be  converted  into  crimes. 

VI.  The  letter,  sent  by  Tiberius  on  this 
occasion,  is  too  remarkable  to  be  here  omit- 
ted. His  words  were  as  follov/s  :  "  What  to 
''  write  f«^,  conscript  fathers  ;  in  what  terms 
"  to  express  myself,  or  wliat  to  refrain  from 
"  writing,   is    a  matter  of  such  perplexity, 

VOL.    II.  z 


38  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    ''  that  if  I  know  how  to  decide,  may  the  just 


CC 


gods,  and  tlie  goddesses  of  vengeance,  doom 
*  785.     ''  me  to    die    in    panos,    worse  than  those 

A.  D.  X         c   ^ 

32.  ''under  which  I  hnger  ev^ery  day/'  We 
liave  here  the  features  of  the  inward  man. 
His  crimes  retahated  upon  him  with  the 
keenest  retribution  ;  so  true  is  the  saying  of 
the  great  philosopher  (bj,  the  oracle  of  an- 
cient wisdom,  that  if  the  minds  of  tyrants 
were  laid  open  to  our  view,  wc  should  see 
them  gashed  and  mangled  with  the  whips 
and  stings  of  horror  and  remorse.  By  blows 
and  stripes  the  flesh  is  made  to  quiver,  and 
in:  like  manner,  cruelty,  and  inordinate  pas- 
sions, malice  and  evil  deeds,  become  internal 
executioners,  and  with  unceasing  torture 
goad  and  lacerate  the  heart.  Of  tins  truth 
Tiberius  is  a  melancholy  instance.  Neither 
the  imperial  dignity,  nor  the  gloom  of  soli- 
tude, nor  the  rocks  of  Caprea?,  could  shield 
him  from  himself.  He  Hved  on  the  rack  of 
guilt,  and  his  wounded  spirit  groaned  in 
aj'onv. 

yil.  CyEciLiANus,  the  scualor,  had  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  prosecution  of  Messa- 
linus  Cotta.  For  that  offence  Tiberius  left 
liim    to  the  discretion    of  the  fathers,   who^ 


OF    TACITUS.  339 

thought  fit  to  inflict  the  pains  and  penalties,    book 
which  they  had  pronounced  against  Aruseius  ^— -^w^ 
and   Sancjuinius,    the  two  informers  ajiainst     "?'-•' 
Lucius  Arruntius.   The  decision  was  honour-      ^" 
able  to   Cotta ;  a  man,   it  is  true,  of  illus- 
trious birtii,  but  beggared  by  his  vices,   and 
for  the  profligacy  of  his  manners  universally 
abhorred.     The   redress,  which  he  now  ob- 
tained, placed  him   on  a  It^vel  with  the  un- 
blemished excellence  that  distinouished  the 
character  of  Arruntius. 

Quintus  Servaeus  and  Minutius  Thermus 
were,  in  the  next  place,  both  arraigned. 
The  former  was  of  pra3torlan  rank,  and  had 
been  the  companion  of  Germanicus  in  all 
his  expeditions ;  the  latter  was  a  Roman 
knight,  who  had  enjoyed  the  friendship  of 
Sejanus,  but  with  reserve  and  moderation. 
Their  misfortunes  excited  compassion.  Ti- 
brius  declared  aoainst  them  both.  lie  call- 
ed  them  the  principal  agents  in  that  dark 
conspiracy,  and,  for  proof  of  the  fact,  desir- 
ed that  Cestius,  a  member  of  the  senate, 
would  give  in  evidence  what  he  had  written 
to  the  emperor.  Cestius  became  their  ac- 
cuser. 

z2 


'340  THE    ANNALS 

^^!J^  Among  the  calamities  of  that  black  period, 
the  most  tryino-  2;rievance  was  the  deo;enerate 
spirit,  with  which  the  iirst  men  in  the  senate 
submitted  to  the  drudgery  of  common  in- 
formers ;  some  without  a  blush,  in  the  face 
of  day;  and  others  by  clandestine  artifices. 
The  contagion  was  epidemic.  Near  rela- 
tions, aliens  in  blood,  friends  and  strangers, 
known  and  unknown,  were,  without  distinc- 
tion, all  involved  in  one  common  dan<>'er. 
The  fact  recently  committed,  and  the  tale 
revived,  were  equall}^  destructive.  Words 
alone  were  sufficient;  whether  spoken  in  the 
forum,  or  amidst  the  pleasures  of  the  table, 
was  imiT  aterial.  Whatever  the  occasion  or 
the  subject  (a),  eveiy  thing  was  a  construc- 
tive crime.  Informers  struoo'led,  as  it  were 
in  a  rav  c,  who  should  be  first  to  ruin  his 
man  ;  .some  to  secure  themselves  ;  the  greater 
part  infected  by  the  general  corruption  of 
the  times. 

ZVIinutius  and  Serya?us  were  both  con- 
demned, but  saved  themselves  by  giving  evi- 
dence against  others.  The}^  accused  Julius 
Africanus,  a  nativ^e  of  Gaul,  and  Seius  Qua- 
dratus,  of  whose  origin  no  account  remains. 


OF    TACITUS.  341 

Of  the  various  danoers  that  threatened  luim-    book 

o  — 

bers,  and  the  execution  of  others,  I  am 
mware  that  no  accurate  account  is  to  be 
found  in  the  historians  of  tlie  tune.  Tlic 
writer  sunk  under  the  wei'^ht  of  iiis  materials, 
and,  feehng  himself  oppressed  by  the  re- 
petition of  tragic  events,  was  unwilling  to 
fatigue  his  readers  v/ith  tlie  uniformity  of 
blood  and  -horror.  It  has  happened,  hovr- 
■ever,  that,  in  the  researches  which  I  have 
made,  several  facts  have  come  to  lioht,  un- 
touched,  it  is  true,  by  the  pen  of  others,  yet 
not  unworthv  of  beino-  recorded. 

VIII.  In  tliat  dangerous  crisis,  Avhen  the 
creatures  of  Sejanus,  denying  their  connec- 
tions, vrere  making  from  the  wreck,  ^larcus 
Terentius,  a  Roman  knight,  liad  tlie  spirit 
to  avoAv  his  friendship  in  a  speech  to  thefol- 
loAving  effect;  "  In  my  situation,  conscript 
"''  fathers,  I  know  tlie  dano;er  of  owninir  mv- 
*'  self  the  friend  of  Sejanus;  and  I  know  that 
'*  to  disclaim  him  altogether  would  be  the 
"  best  mode  of  defence.  Be  that  as  it  may, 
''  I  am  willing  to  declare  my  sentiments.  I 
"  was  the  friend  of  that  minister;  I  sought 
"  his  patronage,  and  I  gloried  in  it.  I  saw 
''  jiiin  associated  with  his  father  in  the  com" 


342 


THE    ANNALS 


mand  of  the  praetorian  bands :  I  saw  him 
afterwards,  not  only  at  the  head  of  the  mi^ 
htary  department,  but  invested  with  the 
wliole  civil  authority.  liis  friends  and  re- 
lations rose  to  honours ;  and  to  be  in  his 
good  graces,  was  a  sure  road  to  the  favour 
of  the  prince.  On  the  other  hand,  all,  on 
whom  the  minister  frowned,  were  either 
crushed  by  the  weight  of  power,  or  left  to 
languish  in  obscurity.  I  forbear  to  men- 
tion names.  Speaking  in  my  own  defence, 
I  plead  the  cause  of  all  who,  like  myself, 
were  connected  v/ith  the  favourite,  and  like 
myself,  were  unconscious  of  his  last  designs. 


"  In  paying  court  to  Sejanus,  it  was  not  the 
Vulsinian  citizen  whom  we  endeavoured 
to  conciliate ;  it  was  a  branch  of  the  Clau- 
dian  and  the  Julian  families  ;  it  was  the 
son-in-law  of  Caesar  ;  it  was  his  colleague 
in  the  consulship  ;  it  was  his  vicegerent  in 
the  administration,  to  whom  our  homage 
was  offered*  Is  it  the  pleasure  of  the  em- 
peror to  raise  a  favourite  above  his  fellow 
citizens  ?  It  is  not  for  us  to  estimate  the 
merit  of  the  man,  nor  ours  to  weigh  ilr^e 
motives  that  determined  the  choice.  The 
supreme    power  is    in  the  hands    of  the 


OF    TACITUS.  345 

*'  prince ;  committed  to  him  by  the  gods  :    booic 

'*  and  submission  is  the  virtue  of  every  ci-  ^--^^^-^ 

-'  A.  u.  c. 

*'  tizen.     Of  the   mysteries  of  state  we  see      '^^• 

•^  A.  D. 

"  no  more  than  what  he  is  wilHng  to  reveal ;  ^-• 
"  we  see  who  is  raised  to  dignities,  and  who 
''  has  power  to  distribute  the  rewards  and 
"  the  terrors  of  government.  That  the  rays 
''  of  majesty  Avere  collected,  and  fell  on  Se- 
'•' janus,  no  man  will  deny.  The  sentiments 
"  of  the  prince  are  to  us  impenetrable.  The 
*'  secret  springs  of  action  it  is  not  in  our  power 
"'  to  discover  ;  the  attempt  were  dangerous, 
*'  and  may  deceive  the  ablest  statesman. 

"  When  I  speak  of  Sejanus,  conscript  fa- 
''  thers,  I  do  not  speak  of  the  minister,  fallen 
*'  from  the  height  of  power,  undone  and 
*'  ruined.  I  speak  of  Sejanus,  sixteen  years 
"  in  the  meridian  of  his  glory.  During  that 
*'  time,  a  Satrius  Secundusand  a  Pomponius 
commanded  our  respect.  And  if  his  freed- 
men,  or  the  porter  at  his  gate,  condescend- 
^'  ed  to  be  «racious,  we  considered  it  as  the 
*'  highest  honour.  But  to  come  to  the  point : 
"  Shall  this  be  the  defence  of  all  who  followed 
*'  the  fortunes  of  of  Sejanus  ?  By  no  means, 
■♦•'  cojiscript  fathers  ;  draw  the  line  yourselves  ; 

3 


(  c 


i( 


344  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK    ''  let  the  enemies  of  the  commonwealth,  and 

VI. 

^'  the  conspirators  against  the  prince,  be  de- 
''  livered  up  to  public  justice  ;  but  let  the 
^*  offices  of  friendship  remain  inviolate;  and 
''  let  the  principle.,  which  justiiies  the  choice 
"  of  the  prince,  be  at  least  an  apology  for  the 
''  subject/' 

IX.  The  firmness  of  this  speech,  and  the 
spirit  of  the  man,  who  could  boldly  utter 
w^hat  others  only  dared  to  think,  made  such 
an  impression,  that  the  prosecutors,  for  their 
former  crimes  added  to  their  present  malig- 
nity, were  either  driven  into  banishment,  or 
condemned  to  death.  Tiberius  soon  after  sent 
an  accusation  against  Sextus  Vestilius,  of  prae- 
torian rank,  and  formerly  high  in  favour  with 
Drusus,  the  emperor's  brother.  Tiberius, 
for  that  reason,  had  received  him  witli  open 
arms,  and  ranked  him  in  the  number  of  his 
intimate  friends.  The  crime  now  laid  to  his 
charge  was  a  satirical  piece  against  Caligula, 
for  which  Vestilius,  the  real,  or  the  supposed 
author,  was  excluded  froni  the  emperor's 
table.  In  despair,  he  opened  a  vein,  but 
with  the  trembiino-  hand  of  aiie.  The  wound 
v.as  slight,  and  he  tied  it  up  agaiii,  in  order 


OF    TACITUS.  345 

to   try  the  effect  of  a  petition.     Having  re-   ^'^^^ 
ceiveci   an   obdurate   answer,  he  once  more  )^S^_ 
made  use  of  his  weapon,  and  bled  to  death.      a.^d. 

32. 

The  next  prosecution  was  intended  to  make 
a  sweep  of  a  great  number  at  once.  Annius 
PoUio,  Appius  Silanus,  ^lamercus  Scaurus, 
cvrid  Sabinus  Calvisius,  were  grouped  together 
in  a  charge  of  violated  majesty.  Vinicianus 
was  added  to  his  father  Pollio.  They  v/ere 
all  men  of  the  fu'st  rank,  and  some  of  them 
invested  Aviih  the  highest  civil  honours.  The 
senate  was  struck  with  terror.  Few  in  that 
assembly  stood  detached,  either  in  point  of 
friendship  or  alliance,  from  the  persons  ac- 
cused. It.  happened  that  the  evidence  of 
Celsus,  a  tribune  of  the  city  cohorts,  and  one 
of  the  prosecutors,  acquitted  Appius  Silanus 
and  Calvislus.  The  trial  of  Pollio, Viriicianus, 
and  Scaurus,  was  put  off,  by  order  of  Tibe- 
rius, till  he  iiimself  should  think  proper  to 
attend  in  person.  In  the  mean  time,  some 
pointed  expressions  in  his  letter  plainly  shew- 
ed that  Scaurus  was  the  chief  object  of  his 
resentment. 

X.  Not  even  the  softer  sex  could  find  a 


346  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK    shelter  from  the  calamity  of  the  times.   Wo- 

VI 

t^>^^^  men,  it  is  true,  could  not  be  charged  with 
7S5.  desi2:ns  to  overturn  the  government;  but  na- 
?2  tural  affection  was  made  a  crime,  and  the  pa- 
rental tear  was  treason,  Vitia,  the  mother  of 
Fusfius  Geminus,  wept  for  her  son,  and  for 
that  offence,  in  an  advanced  age,  she  was  put 
to  death.  Such  were  the  horrible  proceedings 
of  the  senate.  Tiberius  in  his  island  was  no 
less  vindictive.  By  his  order,  Vescularius 
Flaccus  and  Julius  Marinus,  his  two  earliest 
friends,  who  had  followed  him  to  the  isle  of 
Khodes,  and  still  adhered  to  him  in  the  isle 
of  Capreae,  were  hurried  to  execution.  In  the 
ruin  of  Libo,  the  first  had  been  the  active 
agent  of  the  emperor  ;  and  in  the  plot,  by 
which  Sejanus  wrought  the  downfal  of  Cur- 
tius  Atticus,  Marinus  was  the  principal  actor. 
The  public  saw,  with  pleasure,  that  the  au- 
thoi-s  of  destruction  perished  by  their  own 
pernicious  arts. 

About  this  time  Lucius  Piso,  the  pri^fect 
of  Rome  foj,  pj^id  his  debt  to  nature.  He 
had  lived  his  days  with  honour,  and,  what 
was  rare  in  that  black  period,  though  high 
in  rank  and  authority,  he  died   by  mere  de- 


OF    TACITUS.  347 

cay.  A  man  of  principle,  and  never,  of  his  book 
own  motion,  the  author  of  harsh  or  violent 
measures  ;  he  was  able  frequently  to  prevent 
or  mitigate  destructive  counsels.  Piso  the 
censor,  as  already  mentioned,  was  his  father. 
The  son  lived  to  the  age  of  fourscore.  By 
his  services  in  the  wars  of  Thrace  he  obtained 
triumphal  ornaments ;  but  his  truest  triumph, 
the  glory  of  his  character,  arose  from  the 
wisdom  with  which  he  acted  as  governor  of 
Rome,  tempering,  with  vronderful  address, 
the  rigour  of  an  office,  odious  on  account  of 
its  novelty,  and  rendered,  by  its  duration,  a 
galling  yoke  to  the  people. 

XI.  The  origin  of  this  institution  may  be 
traced  in  the  early  ages  of  Home.  While  the 
monarchy  continued,  and  afterwards  under 
the  consular  government,  that  the  city  might 
not  be  left,  during  the  absence  of  the  king  or 
consuls,  in  a  state  of  anarchy,  a  civil  magis- 
trate was  invested  with  the  whole  executive 
authority.  By  Romulus,  we  are  told,  Ro- 
mulius  Denter  was  appointed  ;  Numa  Mar- 
cius,  by  Tulhis  Ilostilius  ;  and  Spurius  Lu- 
cretius (a J,  by  Tarquin  the  Proud.  That 
precedent  was  followed  by  the  consuls  ;  and, 
^ven  at  this  day,  we  find  an  image   of  the 


34S  TilE    ANNALS 


«ooK  custom  in  the  temporary  magistrate,  who, 
durins;  the  Latin  festivals,  discharges  the 
fmictions  of  the  consul.  In  the  time  of  the 
civil  wars,  Augustus  delegated  the  supreme 
authority,  both  at  Home  and  throughout 
Italy,  to  Cilnius  ]VIa:;cenas,a  Roman  knight. 
When  the  success  of  his  arms  made  him 
master  of  the  empire,  finding  an  unwieldy 
Cfovernment  on  his  hands,  and  a  slow  and 
feeble  remedy  from  the  laws,  he  chose  a  per- 
son of  consular  rank,  to  restrain,  by  speedy 
justice,  the  slaves  wthin  due  bounds,  and  to 
controul  the  licentious  spirit  of  the  citizens, 
ever  turbulent,  and,  if  not  overawed,  prone 
to  innovation.  The  first  that  rose  to  this  im- 
portant post  was  IMessala  Corvinus,  who 
found  himself  unequal  to  the  task,  and  re- 
signed in  a  few  days.  Taurus  Statilius  suc- 
ceeded, and,  notwithstanding  his  advanced 
age,  acquitted  himself  with  honour  and  abi- 
lity. Lucius  Fiso  was  the  next  in  office. 
Durino;  a  series  of  twenty  vcars,  he  dis- 
charged  the  duties  of  tliat  difficult  station 
with  such  an  even  tenor,  and  such  constant 
<lignily,  that,  by  a  decree  of  the  senate,  he 
was  honoured  with  a  public  funeral. 

XIL  A  REroRT  relcitin^^'  to  a  book  of  the 


OF    TACITUS.  349 


vr. 


Sybils  (a)  was   presented  to  the  senate  by    book 
Qainctilianus,  a  tribune  of  the  people.     Ca- 
ninius  Galliis,  who  was  of  the  colleae  of  fif- 
teen,  considered  this  book  as  the  undoubted 
composition  of  the  CunicEan  prophetess  ;  and, 
as  such,  desired  that,  by  a  decree,  it  might  be 
enrolled  in  the  proper  archives.  The  question 
was  put,  and  carried  (^/>J  without  opposition. 
Tiberius,    by  letter,    condemned   the   whole 
proceeding.    The  youth  of  Quinctiiianus,  he 
admitted,  might  be  an  apology  for  his  igno- 
rance of  ancient  customs  ;  but  he  observed, 
and  not  without  asperity,  that  it  ill  became 
a  man  like   Gall  us,  versed  in  the  science  of 
laws  and  religious  ceremonies,  to  adopt  the 
performance  of  an  uncertain  author,   v/ith- 
out  having  first  obtained  the  sanction  of  the 
quiudecemviral  college,  and  without  so  much 
as  reading  it,  as  had  been  the  practice,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  pontiffs.     Besides   this,   the 
vote  was  passed  by  surprise  in  a  thin  meet- 
ing of  the  senate.     He  added  further,  that 
since  the  world  abounded  with  spurious  pro- 
ductions,  falsely  ascribed   to  the  venerable 
name  of  the  ancient   Sybil,  it  had  been  the 
wisdom  of  "Augustus  (c)  to  fix  a  stated  day, 
on  or  before  which  all  papers  of  the  kind 
were  to  be  deposited  with  the  pnctors,  and 


350  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   none,   after  the  limited  time,   to  remain  in 

VI. 

piivate  hands.  <  For  this  regulation  there 
was  an  ancient  precedent.  After  the  social 
war,  when  the  Capitol  was  destroyed  by  iire, 
diligent  search  was  made  at  Samos,  at  Ilium, 
at  Erythrse,  in  Africa,  Sicily,  and  all  the 
Roman  colonies,  in  order  to  collect  the  Sy- 
biliine  verses,  whether  the  production  of  a 
suigle  prophetess,  or  of  a  greater  number; 
and  the  sacerdotal  order  had  directions,  as 
far  as  human  sasia'city  could  distinouish,  to 
separate  the  fictitious  from  the  genuine  com- 
position. In  consequence  of  this  letter,  the 
book  in  question  was  referred  to  the  college 
of  fifteen,  called  the  Quindecimviri. 

XIII.  During  the  same  consulship,  the 
distress,  occasioned  by  a  dearth  of  corn,  well 
nioh   excited  a  pooular   insurrection.     For 

O  XL 

several  days  the  clamour  in  the  theatre  was 
outrageous  beyond  all  former  example.  Ti- 
berius wrote  to  the  senate,  and,  in  terms  of 
keen  reproach,  censured  the  inactivity  of  the 
magistrates,  who  suffered  the  mutinous  spirit 
of  the  populace  to  rage  without  controul ; 
he  stated  the  quantity  of  grain  imported  an- 
nually by  his  orders,  and  the  provinces  from 
which  he  drew  his  supplies,  far  exceeding  the 


OF  TACITUS.  351 


A.  U.  C- 

7S5. 
A.D. 


importation  formerly  made  by  Augustus,  book 
To  restore  the  public  tranquillity,  the  senate 
passed  a  decree  in  the  style  and  spirit  of  the 
old  republic.  The  consuls  followed  it  with 
an  edict  of  equal  rigour.  The  emperor  took 
no  part  in  the  business  ;  but  his  silence 
gained  him  no  popularity  :  he  flattered  him- 
self with  hopes  that  it  would  pass  for  the 
moderation  of  a  republican  prince ;  but  it 
was  deemed  the  sullen  pride  of  a  tyrant. 

XIV.  Towards  the  end  of  the  year,  three 
Roman  knights,  by  name,  Geminius,  Celsus, 
and  Pompeius,  were  charged  with  a  conspi- 
racy, and   condemned  to  suffer.     Geminius 
had  been  a  man  of  pleasure,  and  great  pro- 
digality.    His  taste  for  expence  and  luxur\^ 
recommended  him  to  the  friendship  of  Se- 
janus,    but   a   friendship    merely   convivial, 
leading  to  no  serious    connection.     Junius 
I  Celsus,  at  that  time  one  of  the  tribunes,  as  he 
I  lay  fettered  in  prison,  contrived  to  lengthen 
I  out  his  chain,  so  as  to  wind  it  round  his  neck.. 
j  and  strangle  himself. 
i 

I 

'  About  the  same  time,  Rubrius  Fabatus, 
;  who  had  fled  from  the  city,  with  intent  to 
j  seek  amono;  the  Parthians  a  refu2;e  from  the 


352  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  disasters  of  the  time,  was  apprehended  by  a 

VI.  ,  .  .       ,  .     . 

centurion,  near  the  streights  of  Sicily,  and 
brought  back  to  Rome.  Being  questioned,, 
he  was  not  able,  with  any  colour  of  proba- 
bihty,  to  account  for  his  sudden  departure 
on  so  long  a  journey,  lie  escaped,  however, 
though  not  by  an  act  of  clemency.  He  con- 
tinued to  Uve  in  safetj^,  not  pardoned,  but 
forgotten. 

A.u.  c.      XV.  Servius    Galea  and  Lucius  Svlla 

786. 

A. p.  yxere  the  next  consuls.  Tiberius  saw  liis  (a J 
2rand"daui2;hters  in  the  season  of  life,  that 
made  it  proper  to  dispose  of  them  in  mar- 
riage. On  that  subject  be  liad  deliberated 
for  some  time.  His  choice,  at  length,  fixed 
on  Lucius  Cassius  and  ^Marcus  Vinicius. 
Vinicius  was  born  at  a  small  municipal  toAvni, 
knoY\m  by  the  name  of  C  ales.  His  father, 
and  o;randfather  were  of  consular  rank  ;  but 
the  family,  before  tlieir  time,  never  rose 
hiii;her  than  the  equestrian  or^ler.  Their 
descendant  united  to  his  amiable  manners 
a  vein  of  ])Seasing  eloquence.  Cassius 
was  born  at  Home,  of  a  plebeian,  but  re- 
spected family.  He  was  educated  under  the 
strict  tuition    of  liis  father,  but    succeeded 


VI. 


OF    TACITUS. 

hiore  through  happiness  than  care  and  Indus-  book 
try.  To  tiiese  two  the  daughters  of  Ger- 
manicus  were  given  in  marriage ;  Drusilla  to 
Cassius,  and  Julia  to  Vinicius.  Tiberius  in 
his  letters  to  the  senate  made  honourable  men- 
tion of  the  young  men,  but  in  a  style  of  re- 
serve. He  touched  on  his  Ion"'  absence  from 
the  capital,  and,  after  glossing  it  over  with 
vague  and  frivolous  reasons,  talked  in  a  more 
serious  tone  of  the  weight  of  government,  and 
the  animosities  wdiich  he  was  obliged  to  en- 
counter. He  desired  that  ]VIacro,  prasfect 
of  the  praetorian  guards,  with  a  small  number 
of  tribunes  and  centurions,  might  have  direc- 
tions to  guard  his  person,  as  often  as  he  should 
attend  the  senate.  A  decree  was  passed  in 
the  amplest  form,  according  to  his  desire,with- 
out  limitation  of  rank  or  number.  Tiberius, 
notvrithstandino',  never  appeared  in  the  assem- 
])ly  of  the  fathers,  nor  even  entered  the  w^alls 
of  Rome.  He  made  feigned  approaches,  still 
retreating  through  devious  roads,  suspecting 
the  people,  and  Hying  from  his  country* 

XVI.  The  practice  of  usury  was  a  griev- 
ance that  distressed  the  whole  community, 
,A.gainst  such  as  sought  to  increase  their  wealth 

VOh.    II,  -  A  A 


354  THE  ANNALS 

BOOK   by  placing  out  money  (a)  at  exorbitant  in- 
terest, actions  were  commenced.      The  mo- 
ney-lenders were  accused  under  a  law  enacted 
by  Julius  Ca:sar,  whereby  the  terms  of  lend- 
ing on  land-security,  throughout  Ital}^  were 
defined  and  settled  ;  a  wise  and  salutary  law, 
but  fallen  into  disuse,  the  public  good,  as  is  too 
often  the  case,  giving  way  to  private  advan- 
tage.     Usury,  it  must  be  admitted,  was  an 
early  canker  of  the  commonwealth,   the  fre- 
quent cause  of  tumult  and  sedition.      Laws 
were  made  to  repress  the  mischief,  while  yet 
the  nuumers  were  pure  and  uncorrupted.  In 
the  first  ages  of  the  commonwealth,  interest 
of  money  was  arbitrary,  depending  on  the  will 
and  pleasure  of  the  opulent  ;  but,  by  a  law  of 
the  twelve  tables,  it  was  reduced  to  one  for 
the  hundred.  \More  M'as  declared  illegal.   In 
process  of  time  a  new  regulation,  proposed  by 
the  tribunes,  lowered  it  to   one   half ;  and, 
finally,  it  was  abolished  altogether.  It  began 
however  to  revive,  and,  to  suppress  its  growth, 
new  sanctions  were  established  by  the  autho-» 
rity  of  the  people  :   but  fraud  found  new  ex- 
pedients, often  checked,  and  as  often  re-ap- 
pearing in  different  shapes.     In  the  reign  of 
Tiberius,  at  the  point  of  time  now  in  question. 


OF    TACITUS.  355 

the  complaint  was  brought  before  Gracchus    boor 

,  .VI. 

the  pnistor,  who  was  empowered,  by  virtue  of 
h-is  office,  to  hear  and  determine.  That  ma- 
gistrate, however,  seeing  numbers  involved  in 
the  question,  submitted  the  whole  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  senate.  In  that  order  few 
were  exempt  from  the  general  vice.  Alarmed 
for  themselves,  and  wishino'to  obtain  a  general 
immunit\%  the  fathers  referred  the  business  to 
the  emperor.  Tiberius  complied  with  their 
re([uest.  A  year  and  six  months  were  grant- 
ed, that  men  in  that  time  might  adjust  and 
settle  their  accounts,  according  to  law. 

XVII.  The  want  ofcurrent  money  brought 
on  a  new  scene  of  distress.  Creditors  pressed 
to  have  their  accounts  balanced,  and  judg- 
ment was  sio;ned  against  such  as  stood  in- 
debted.  Their  effects  were  sold,  and  all  the 
specie  was  either  carried  to  the  pubhc  trea- 
sury, or  swallowed  up  in  the  coffers  of  the 
prince.  To  alleviate  this  inconvenience,  the 
senate  ordered,  by  a  decree,  that  two-tiiirds 
of  each  man's  debt  should  be  secured  on  lands 
i'.i  Italy.  But  still  the  creditors  claimed  the 
whole  of  their  demand,  and  the  debtor,  by 

A  A  2 


3o6  THE   ANNALS 

BOOK  consequence,  was   reduced  to   the  brink  of 

v-^v^  ruin.  He  wished  to  save  liis  honour  ;  the  ne- 
A.  u.  c. 

]^^-  cessity  pressed  ;  meetings  were  held,  suppU- 
^^-  cations  were  tried,  but  the  law  took  its  course. 
The  tribunal  of  the  praetor  resounded  with 
complaints,  and  noise,  and  lamentations.  The 
project  of  obliging  the  debtor  to  sell  his  lands,. 
and  the  creditors  to  purchase,  instead  of  heal- 
ing the  mischief,  made  it  worse.  The  usurers 
lay  in  wait  to  buy  at  a  reduced  price,  and,  fsjr 
that  purpose,  hoarded  up  their  money.  The 
value  of  lands  sunk  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  estates  on  sale,  and  the  debtor  was  left, 
w^ithout  resource.  Whole  families  were  ruin- 
ed ;  their  credit  was  destroyed,  and  every  pros- 
pect vanished.  Tiberius  interposed  with  sea- 
sonabU.'  relief.  He  opened  a  fund  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  great  sesterces,  as  a  public  loan , 
for  three  years,  free  from  interest,  on  condi- 
tion that  the  borrower,  for  the  security  of  the 
state,  should  mort^a^e  lands  of  doable  the  va- 
lue.  B}^  this  salutary  aid  public  credit  was 
revived.  The  money,  which  had  lain  in  pri- 
vate hands,  began  to  circulate  ;  and  the  order 
of  the  senate,  directing  tlic  sale  of  land-pro- 
perty, fell  into  disuse.     Like  most  plans  of 


OF    TACITUS.  357 

reformation,  it  was  embraced  at  first  with  ar-    book 

VI. 

dour  ;  but  the  novelty  ceased,  and  the  scheme  <^^v-^^ 

A.  U.  C 

ended  in  nothiu"'.  "^sc. 

=^  A.  D. 

as. 

X\  III.  The  rage  of  prosecutions,  from 
wliich  ]\ome  had  an  interval  of  rest,  broke 
out  again  with  collected  fury.  The  first  that 
suffered  was  Confidius  Proculus,  on  a  charge 
of  violated  majesty.  On  his  birth-day,  while 
he  was  celebrating  that  aimual  festival,  he  was 
seized,  in  the  moment  of  joy,  and  conducted 
to  the  senate-house,  vvhere  he  was  tried,  con- 
demned, and  hurried  awav  to  execution.  His 
sister,  Sancia,  vras  interdicted  from  fire  and 
water.  Tb.e  prosecutor,  v.  lio  appeared  against 
her,  wasQuintus  Pomponius,  a  fierce  and  tur- 
bulent spirit.  To  curry  favourwith  the  prince, 
and  thereby  save  his  brother,  Pomponius  Se- 
cundus,  was  the  pretence  with  which  this  man 
endeavoured  to  palliate  his  iniquity.  The  se- 
nate proceeded  next  against  Pumpeia  I\Iacrina. 
She  was  condemned  to  banishment.  Her 
husband,  Argohcus,  and  Laco,her  father-in- 
law,  both  of  distinguished  rank  in  Achaia^ 
had,  before  this  time,  fallen  victims  to  thecru- 
eltv  of  Tiberius.  Macrina's  father,  an  illustri- 
ous  Roman  knight,  and  her  brother,  who  was 


Q 


5g  THE    ANNALS 


VI. 


BOOK  of  pnT^torlan  rank,  to  avoid  a  similar  sentence, 
put  an  end  to  their  lives.  The  crime  alleged 
against  them  was,  that  their  ancestor,  Theo- 
phanes,  of  Mitylene,had  been  the  confidential 
friend  ofPompey  the  Great;  and  that  divine 
honours  were  paid  to  the  memory  of  Theo- 
phanes  by  the  flattering  genius  of  the  Greek 
nation. 


Sextus    Mar  1  us,   who    held  the 
largest  possessions  in  Spain,  was  the  next  vic- 
tim.     Incest  with  his  own  daughter  was  the 
imputed  crime  ;  he  was  precipitated  down  the 
Tarpeian  rock.    That  the  avarice  of  Tiberius 
was  the  motive  for  this  act  of  violence,  was 
seen  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  when 
the  gold-mines  of  the  unfortunate  Spaniard, 
which  were  forfeited  to  the  public,werc  known 
to  be  seized  by  the  emperor  for  his  own  use. 
He  was  now  so  far  plunged  in  blood,  that  exe- 
cutions served  only  to  whet  his  cruelty.     At 
one  blow,  he  ordered  all,  who  were  detained 
in  prison  for  their  supposed  connection  with 
Sejanus,  to  be  put  to  instant  death.  A  dread- 
ful carna<2:e  followed :  neither  sex  nor  age  was 
spared;  the  noble  and  ignoble  perished  with- 
out distinction ;  dead  bodies  in  mangled  heap. 


OF  TACITUS.  359 

or  scattered  up  and  down,  presented  a  trao'ic    book 

11  .VI. 

spectacle.  Neither  friend,  nor  relation,  dared 
to  approach  ;  none  were  permitted  to  sooth 
the  pano's  of  death,  to  weep  over  the  deceased, 
or  to  bid  the  last  farewell.  Guards  were  sta- 
tioned to  watch  the  looks  of  afflicted  friends, 
and  to  catch  intelligence  from  their  tears,  till, 
at  length,  the  putrid  bodies  were  throv/n  into 
the  Tiber,  to  drive  at  the  mercy  of  the  Avinds 
and  Avaves,  Some  Avere  carried  aAvay  by  the 
current  ;  others  were  throAvn  on  shore,  but 
to  burn  or  bury  them  was  alloAved  to  no  man. 
All  Avere  struck  Avith  terror,  and  tlie  last  office 
of  humanity  Avas  suppressed.  Cruelty  Avent 
on  increasing,  and  e\^ery  sentiment  of  the 
heart  Avas  smothered  in  silence. 

XX.  About  this  time,  Caligula,  Avho  paid 
close  attendance  on  his  grandfather  in  the  isle 
of  CaprciC,  Avas  married  to  Claudia  fa  J,  the 
daughter  of  j\Iarcus  Silanus.  This  young 
prince  had  the  art  to  conceal,  under  a  A'cil  of 
modesty,  the  niost  detestable  of  human  cha- 
racters. Neither  the  condemnation  of  his 
mother,  nor  the  banishment  of  his  brother, 
could  extort  from  him  one  Avord  of  compas- 
sion.   He  studied  the  humours  of  Tiberius; 


3^0  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   he  vratclied  the  whim  of  the  da}-,  and  set  hii 
^~  features ac{!ordin<yly,  in  dress  and  lan^ua^ethe 

A.  U.  C.  o  ^  ■'  o       o 

^^g  mimic  of  his  grandfather.  Hence  the  shrewd 
^^-  remark  of  .Passienus,  the  famous  orator  : 
''  Tliere  never  was  a  better  slave,  nor  a  more 
"  detestable  master."  A  prophetic  expression  ^ 
that  fell  from  Tiberius,  concerning  Galba,  v.lia 
-was  this  year  in  the  office  of  consul,  may  not 
imapt-y  be  inserted  in  tins  place.  Having 
called  him  to  an  audience,  in  order  to  pene- 
trate his  inmost  thoughts,  he  tried  him  on  va~ 
ii'ious  topics,  and,  at  length,  told  him  in  Greek , 
'■^  You  too,  Galba,  at  a  future  day,  will  have 
*'  a  taste  of  sovereign  power;"  alhuhngto  iiis 
elevation  late  in  life,  and  the  shortness  of  his 
rei4>;n.  To  look  into  the  seedsof  tune  was  the 
early  study  of  Tiberius.  In  the  isle  of  Rhodes, 
judicial  astrology  was  his  favourite  pursuit.  In 
the  acquisition  of  that  science,  he  there  em- 
ployed his  leisure,  under  Tlu^asullus,  wliose 
abilities  he  tried  in  the  followinji  manner : 


XXI.  Whenever  he  ciiose  to  consult  an 
astrologer,  he  retired  with  him  to  \\\(i  top  of 
the  house,  attended  by  a  .single  frecdman,  se- 
lected for  the  purpose,  ilhterate,  but  of  great 
bodily  stren2;lh.     TJiis  man  conducted  the 


OF  TACITUS,  ^  351 

sootlisavcr,  whose  talents  were  to  be  tried,    book 


"V 


alon<i  tlie  ricke  of  the  cliff,  on  which  the  man- 
sion  stood  ;  and  as  he  returned,  if  the  emperor  '  '^hg.  * 
suspected  fraud,  or  vain  affectation  of  ivuow-  33/ 
Jedge,  he  threw  the  impostor  headlong  into 
the  sea.  Til^erius  was,  by  these  means,  left 
at  ease,  and  no  witness  survived  to  tell  the 
story.  Thrasullus  was  put  to  the  same  test. 
Beini>;  led  alon"*  the  precipice,  he  answered  a 

~  Oil' 

number  of  questions  ;  and  not  only  promised 
imperial  splendour  to  Tiberius,,  but  opened  a 
scene  of  future  events,  in  a  manner  that  iilled 
liis  imagination  with  astonishment.  Tiberius 
desired  to  know,  "  whether  he  liad  cast  his 
*'  own  nativity?  Could  he  foresee  Avliat  was  to 
*'  happen  in  the  course  of  the  year?  nay,  on 
*'  that  very  day  ?"  Thrasullus  consulted  the 
position  of  the  heavens,  and  the  aspect  of  the 
planets  :  he  was  struck  with  fear  ;  he  paused  ; 
he  hesitated  ;  he  sunk  into  profound  medita- 
tion ;  terror  and  amazement  shook  his  frame. 
Breaking  silence  at  last,"  I  perceive,"  he  said, 
"  the  crisis  of  my  fate  ;  this  very  moment  may 
^'  be.  my  last."  Tiberius  clasped  him  in  his 
arms,  conii;ratulatirj^  him  both  on  his  know- 
ledge,  and  his  escape  from  danger.  From  that 
^iioment,  he  considered   the   predictions  of 


362  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   Thrasullus  as  the  oracles  of  truth,   and  the 

VI. 

astrolocfer  was  ranked  in  the  number  of  the 
prince's  confidential  friends. 

XXII.  When  I  reflect  on   this  fact,  and 
others  of  a  similar  nature,   I  find  my  judg- 
ment so  much  on  the  balance,  that,  whether 
human  affairs  are  governed  faj  by  fate  and 
immutable  necessit\',  or  left  to  the  wild  rota- 
tion of  chance,   I   am  not  able   to   decide. 
Among  the  philosophers  of  antiquity,  and  the 
followers  of  their  difterent  sects  amono;  the  mo- 
derns,  two  opposite  opinions  have  prevailed. 
According  to  the  system  of  one  party,    ''  in 
*'  all  that  relates  to  man,  his  formation,  his 
*'  progress,  and  his  end,  the  gods  have  no  con- 
*'  cern ;  and,  by  consequence,  calamity  is  often 
**  the  good  man's  portion,  while  vice  enjoys 
*'  the  pleasures  and  advantages  of  the  world." 
In   opposition  to   this    hypothesis,  another 
school  maintains,  ''  that  the  immutable  law  of 
*'  fate  is  perfectly  consistent  with  the  events  of 
''  the  moral  world  ;  that  law,  they  tell  us,  does 
*'  not  depend  on  the  course  of  wandering  pla- 
**  nets,  but  is  fixed  in  the  first  principles  of 
*'  things,  supported  and  preserved  by  a  chain 
*'  of  natural  causes.    Man,  notwithstanding, 


OF    TACITUS.  rM 

*'  h  ieft  at  liberty  to  choose  liis  sphere  of  ac-    eook 

VJ. 

^  "  tion ;  but  the  choice  once  made,  the  coiise- 
"  quences  follow  in  a  regular  course,  fixed, 

j  "  certain,  and  inevitable/'  By  this  sect  we 
are  further  taught,  "  that  o'ood  and  evil  are 
''  not  always  what  vulgar  error  has  so  defined  ; 
"  on  the  contrary,  many,  wliom  we  see  strug- 
"  gling  with  adversity,  are  yet  perfectly  hap- 
''  py ;  while  others,  in  all  the  pride  and  af- 
"  fluence  of  fortune,  are  truly  wretched, 
''  The  former,  by  their  fortitude,  tower  above 
''  the  ills  of  life  ;  and  the  latter,  by  their  in-r 
'*  discretion,  poison  their  own  felicity." 

Sublime  as  this  theory  may  be,  there  is  still 
a  third  opinion,  which  has  taken  root  in  the 
human  mind,  and  cannot  be  eradicated .  Ac- 
cording to  this  doctrine,  the  colour  of  our  lives 
is  fixed  in  the  first  moment  of  our  existence; 
and,  though  what  is  foretold,  and  the  events 
that  follow,  may  often  vary,  the  fallac}^  is  not 
to  be  imputed  to  the  art  itself,  but  to  the  va- 
nity of  pretenders  to  a  science,  respected  b}- 
antiquity,  and  in  modern  times  established  by 
undoubted  proof.  In  fact,  the  reign  of  Nero 
was  foretold  by  the  son  of  this  very  Thrasiil- 
lus  :  but  this,  to  avoid  a  long  digression,  shall 
bp  reserved  for  its  proper  place  (bj. 


564  THE    ANNALS 

XXIII.  During  the  same  consulship,  the 
death  of  AsidIus  Galhis  (a)  became  piibUcly 
known.  That  he  died  by  famine,  no  man 
doubted  ;  but  wliether  through  compulsion, 
or  wilful  abstinence,  is  uncertain.  Applica- 
tion was  made  for  leave  to  perform  his  funeral 
ol)sequies  ;  nor  did  Tiberius  blush  to  grant  as 
a  favour,  what  was  the  common  right  of  man. 
He  regretted,  however,  that  a  criminal,  before 
he  could  be  convicted  in  his  presence,  had  es- 
caped the  hand  of  justice  ;  as  if  in  three  years, 
since  the  charge  was  laid,  there  was  not  suf- 
iicient  time  to  proceed  against  a  man  of  con- 
sular rank,  and  the  father  of  consuls, 

The  death  of  Drusus  (b)  followed.  By  or* 
der  of  Tiberius  he  was  to  be  starved  to  death. 
By  chewing  the  weeds  that  served  for  Ids 
bed,  the  unhappy  prince  lingered  nine  days 
in  miserv.  At  the  time  when  Macro  received 
his  orders  to  act  with  vigour  against  Sejanus, 
Tiberius,  as  some  wTiters  a^rsert,  gave  direc- 
tions, if  that  desperate  minister  had  recourse 
to  arms,  that  Drusus,  then  confined  in  the  pa- 
lace, should  be  produced  to  the  people,  and 
proclaimed  emperor.  In  consequence  of  this 
report,  an  opinion  prevailed,  that  the  prince 
was  on  the  point  of  being  reconciled  to  his 


A.  U.  C- 
786. 
A.D. 


OF    TACITUS.  Sda 

iiraiicison  and  his  daughter-in-law.     But  to    book 

r*  o  VI. 

relent  was  not  in  the  temper  of  Tiberius  :  he 
was  supposed  to  be  mercifully  inclined,  and 
he  chose  rather  to  display  his  cruelty. 

XXIV.  The  death  of  Drusus  was  not  suf- 
ficient to  satisfy  the  vengeance  of  Tiberius. 
lie  persecuted  the  memory  of  the  prince  with 
iniextinguished  hatred  ;  he  imputed  to  him 
unnatural  passions,  and  represented  him  as  a 
pei'son  who  had  not  only  lost  all  family  affec- 
tion, but,  being  possessed  ofan  aspiring  genius, 
was  actually  employed  in  concerting  measures 
to  overturn  the  government.  lie  ordered  a 
day-book  to  be  read  before  the  fathers,  in 
which  the  words  and  actions  of  Drusus  were 
carefully  recorded.  In  tlie  aimals  of  historj- is 
there  any  thing  to  match  this  black,  this  hor- 
rible inquisition  ?  For  a  length  of  time  spies 
of  state  were  appointed  to  keep  a  register  of 
words,  to  interpret  looks,  and  note  the  groans 
that  issued  from  the  heart.  That  tlie  grand- 
iather  could  countenance  a  plot  so  black  and 
fletestable  ;  that  lie  could  listen  to  the  v/iiis- 
pered  tale  ;  read  a  clandestine  journal,  and 
not  only  read  it  in  secret,  but  produce  it  in 
the  face  of  day,  appears  too  atrocious  to  h(-^ 


366  TilE    A?iNALS 


VI. 


BOOK  believed,  if  the  fact  were  not  aiulicnticated  bjr 
the  letters  of  Actius  the  centurion,  and  Didy- 
mus  the  freedman.  In  tlie  narrative  left  by 
those  men,  we  fmd  the  names  of  the  slaves 
employed  about  the  prince's  person.  One 
struck  him,  as  lie  came  forth  from  his  cham- 
ber ;  another  overpowered  him  with  terror 
and  dismay. 

The  centurion,  as  if  brutality  were  a  merit, 
boasts  of  his  savage  expressions.  lie  relates 
the  words  of  the  prince,  in  the  last  ebb  of  life, 
spoken  against  Tiberius,  at  first,  perhaps,  in  a 
feigned  delirium,  but  when  his  end  drew  near, 
in  a  tone  of  solemn  impreca.tion,  imploring  the 
gods,  that  he,  who  imbrued  his  hands  in  the 
blood  of  his  daughter-in-law  ;  who  murdered 
his  nephew  ;  who  destroyed  his  grand-chil- 
dren, and  in  his  own  family  laid  a  scene  of 
j<laughiter,  might  not  escape  the  punishment 
due  to  his  crimes.  "  Reserve  him,"  he  said, 
"  reserve  him,  gods  !  for  your  own  just  ven- 
"  geance :  let  him  fall  a  terrible  example  to 
"  the  present  age,  and  to  all  posterity."  The 
fathers,  affecting  to  shudder  at  imprecations 
so  eager  and  emphatic,  interrupted  the  read- 
ing ;  but  they  felt   the   impression  at   their 


OF    TACITUS.  067 

hearts.     With  horror  and  astonishment  they    book: 

VI. 

beheld  a  tyrant,  who,  with  close  hypocrisy, 
had  hitherto  concealed  his  crimes,  but  was 
now  so  hardened,  that  without  shame  or  re- 
morse, he  could  throw  open  prison- walls,  and 
shew  his  grandson  under  the  centurion's  lash, 
exposed  to  common  ruffians,  and,  in  the  agony 
of  famine,  begging  a  wretched  pittance  to  sup- 
port expiring  nature,  but  begging  it  in  vain. 

XXV.  The  grief  occasioned  by  the  me- 
lancholy death  of  Drusus  had  not  subsided, 
when  the  public  faj  received  another  shock 
from  the  tragic  end  of  Agrippina.  The  fall 
of  Scjanus  afforded  a  gleam  of  hope,  which, 
it  may  be  conjectured,  helped  to  support  her 
spirits  for  some  time  :  but  wlien  she  saw  no 
alteration  of  measures,  worn  out  and  tired  of 
life  she  resolved  to  close  the  scene.  Her  death 
was  said  to  be  voluntary  ;  but  if  it  be  true, 
tliat  all  nourishment  was  withheld  from  her, 
it  is  evident  that  an  artful  tale  was  flibricatcd, 
to  give  the  appearance  of  suicide  to  a  cruel 
and  barbarous  murder.  Even  after  her  de- 
cease, Tiberius  continued  still  implacable.  We 
loaded  her  memory  with  the  foulest  imputa- 
tions ;  he  c]ran;-ed  her  with  incontinence  ;  he 


563  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  pronounced  Asinius  Gallus  her  adulterer  i 
and  when  she  lost  lier  paramour,  life,  he  saidj 
v/asno  longer  worth  her  care.  But  the  cha- 
racter  of  Agrippina  Avas  invuhierable.  It  is 
true^that  a  mind  Uke  hers  could  not  brook  an 
equal.  Ambition  was  her  ruling  passion  ;  and 
in  her  viev/s  of  i]jrandeur  the  soft  desires  of 
her  sex  were  lost.  Tiberius  added,  as  a  a  cir- 
cumstance worthy  of  being  recoided,  that  she 
died  on  the  anniversary  of  the  day  that  freed 
tlie  world  from  Sejanus  two  years  before. 
That  she  was  not  strangled  and  thrown  into 
the  common  charnel-house,  he  thought  fit  to 
celebrate  as  an  act  of  clemency.  The  senate 
thanked  liim  for  the  tender  indul<>ence,  and 
ordained,  by  a  decree^  that  the  fifteenth  be- 
fore the  calends  of  November  (the  day  on 
which  Sejanus  and  Agrippina  both  expired) 
should  be  observed  as  a  solemn  festival,  with 
annual  offerings  on  the  altar  of  Jupiter. 

XXVI.  Soon  after  these  transactions,  Coc- 
ceius  Nerva  f  rtj,  the  constant  companion  of 
the  pYince,  a  man  distinguished  by  his  know- 
ledge of  laws,  both  liuman  and  divine,  pos- 
sessing a  splen(hd  fortune,  and  still  in  the  ^'i- 
gour  of  health,  grew  weary  of  life,  and  formed 


OF  TACITUS. 


369 


a  resolution  to  lay  the  burthen  down.  Tibe-    eook 
rius,  on   the   first   intelligence,    paid  him  a  ^{^ 
visit  ;  he  entered  into  close  conversation  ;  he     J^^^; 
desired  to  know  his  motives  ;  he  expostulat-      '^^' 
ed,  tried  the  force  of  entreaty,  and  declared, 
without  reserve,  that  if  a  man,  so  high  m  fa- 
vour, without  any  apparent  reason,  put  an 
end  to  his  life,  it  would  be  a  stab  to  the  em- 
peror's peace  of  mind,  and  a  stain  indelible 
to  his  reputation.     Nerva  declined  the  sub- 
ject.    He  persisted  in  wilful  abstinence,  and 
shortly  after  closed  his  days.     From  those 
who   best  knew  his  character   and  way   of 
thinking,  we   learn  the  reasons  of  his  con- 
duct. He  saw  the  cloud  that  was   ready  to 
burst  on  the  commonwealth,  and  struck,  at 
once,  with  fear  and  indignation,  he  resolved, 
while  yet  his  honour  was  unblemished,   to 
escape  with  glory  from  the  horrors  of  the 
time. 

Extraordinary  as  it  may  seem,  the  death  of 
Agrippina  drew  after  it  the  ruin  of  Plancina. 
She  was  formerly  the  wife  of  Cneius  Piso. 
The  reader  will  remember  the  savage  joy 
with  which  she  heard  of  the  death  of  Ger- 
manicus.     When  her  husband  perished,  the 

VOL.    II.  s  B 


370  THE    ANNALS 

^^^^  infiuence  of  Livia,  and,  still  more,  tlie  enmity 


^  ^  ^  of  Agrippina,  skrcencd  lier  from  the  punish- 
^"^-  ment  due  to  her  crimes.  But  court-favour 
^^'  and  private  animosity  were  at  an  end,  and 
justice  took  its  course.  Tiie  charge  against 
her  was  founded  on  facts  of  public  notoriety. 
In  despair  she  laid  violent  hands  on  herself, 
and  suffered,  at  last,  the  slow,  but  just  re- 
ward of  a  flagitious  life. 

XXVII.  Amidst  the  tragic  events  that 
covered  the  city  of  Rome  with  one  general 
face  of  mournino-   a  new  cause  of  discontent 
arose  from  the  marriage  of  Juha  (the  daugh- 
ter of  Drusus   fa  J,  and  lately  the  wife  of 
Nero)  with  Rubellius  Blandus,  whose  grand- 
father, a  native  of  Tibur,  and  never  of  higher 
distinction   than    the   equestrian   rank,  was 
.  fresh  in  the  memory  of  men  still  living.  To- 
wards the  end   of  the  ^ear,  the  funeral  of 
jILlius  Lamia  was  celebrated  with  all  tlie  ho- 
nours of  the  censorian  order.     lie  hc^d  been 
for  some  time  the  nominal  governor  of  Sy- 
ria, and  having  resigned  that  imaginary  title, 
was  made  pra^fect  of  Rome.     Illustrious  by 
his  l^irth,  he  lived  to   a  vigorous   old  age ; 
and,  not  being  suffered  to    proceed  to  the 


OF    TACITUS.  371 

province  of  Syria,  he  derived  from  that  very    book 
restraint  additional  dignity  (bj. 

The  death  of  Pomponius  Flaccus  (c),  pro- 
pnrtor  of  Syria,  which  happened  soon  after 
the  decease  of  Lamia,  produced  a  letter  from 
Tiberius  to  the  senate,  remonstratin«'  tliat 
officers  of  rank,  who  by  tl)eir  talents  were  fit 
to  be  at  the  head  of  armies,  declined  the  ser- 
vice ;  and,  by  consequence,  the  emperor  was 
reduced  to  the  necessity  of  requesting,  that 
the  fathers  would  use  their  iniiuence,  to  in- 
duce  men  of  consular  rank  to  undertake  the 
Oifice.  .lie  forgot,  however,  that  ten  years 
b(^fore,  Arruntius  was  appointed  to  tlie  go- 
vernment of  Spain,  but,  during  that  whole 
time,  never  permitted  to  leave  the  city. 

In  the  course  of  this  year  died  ManiusLe- 
pidus  (dj,  whose  wisdom  and  moderation 
liave  been  already  meritioned.  To  say  any 
thing  of  the  nobihty  of  his  birth  were  super-' 
fluous,  since  it  is  v,^ell  known,  that  the  house 
of  the  iTimilii,  from  whom  he  derived  his  pe- 
digree, produced  a  race  of  eminerit  citizens. 
If  any  of  the  family  degenerated  from  the 
virtue  of  their  ancestors,  they  continued,  not- 

J3  B  2 


'•  i^-r-  *^,v.;  >r.*>;.  ;:i-^  J 


S72  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  withstandini:^,   to    support  the   splendour  of 

VI. 

^^-N — »  an  ancient  and  illustrious  race. 
A.  u.  c. 

78f?. 

^^-         XXVIII.  Paulus    Fabius    and    Lucius 


A.  U.  C. 

787. 

A.D. 

34. 


Vitellius  (a)  succeeded  to  the  consulship. 
In  the  course  of  the  year,  the  miraculous 
bird,  known  to  the  Avorld  by  the  name  of  the 
phoenix  (bj,  after  disappearing  for  a  series  of 
ages,  revisited  /Egypt.  A  phitnomenon  so 
very  extraordinary  could  not  fail  to  produce 
abundance  of  curious  speculation.  The  learn- 
ing of  Egypt  was  displayed,  and  Greece  ex- 
hausted her  ingenuity.  The  facts,  about  which 
there  seems  to  be  a  concurrence  of  opinions, 
with  other  circumstances,  in  their  nature 
doubtful,  yet  worthy  of  notice,  will  not  be 
mi  welcome  to  the  reader. 

That  the  phoenix  is  sacred  to  the  sun,  and 
differs  from  the  rest  of  the  feathered  species, 
in  the  form  of  its  head,  and  the  tincture  of 
its  plumage,  are  points  settled  by  the  na- 
turahsts.  Of  its  longevity,  tlie  accounts  are 
various.  The  common  persuasion  is,  tiiat 
it  hves  five  hundred  years,  though  by  some 
writers  the  date  is  extended  to  fourteen  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one.  The  several  ivras,  wlien 
the  phoenix  has  been  seen,  are  dxed  by  tra^ 


OF    TACITUS.  373 


ditioii.     The    first,  we  are  told,  was  in  the    ^oo^^ 
reii>ii  of  Sesostris  fc) ;  the    second,   in  that  ^^^^-^^ 
of  Amasis  ;  and    in    the   period  when  Pto-    ^''*^- 
lemy,   the  third    of   the   ^lacedonian    race,      ^'*' 
was  seated  on  the  throne  of  iEgypt,  another 
phoenix  directed  its  flight  towards  lieliopo- 
lis,  attended   by  a  groupe  of  various  birds, 
all  attracted  by  the  novelty,  and  gazing  with 
wonder  at  so  l>eantifLd  an  appearance.    For 
the  truth  of  this   account,  we  do   not  pre- 
sume to  answer.     The   facts  lie  too  remote, 
and,  covered    as  they    are  with    the  mists 
of  antiquity,  all   further   argument  is  sus- 
pended. 

From  the  reign  of  Ptolemy  to  Tiberius,  the 
intermediate  space  is  not  quite  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years.  From  that  circumstance  it 
has  been  inferred  by  many  that  the  last 
phoenix  was  neither  of  the  geruiine  kind,  nor 
came  from  the  woods  of  Arabia.  The  in- 
stinctive qualities  of  the  species  were  not 
observed  to  direct  its  motions.  It  is  the 
genius,  w^e  are  told,  of  the  phoenix,  when  its 
course  of  years  is  finished,  and  the  approach 
of  death  is  felt,  to  build  a  nest  in  its  native 
clime,  and   there   deposit  the  principles  of 


37-i  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   life,  from  which  a  new  progeny  arises.     Tlie 
wv-^  first  care  of  the  voun^"  bird,  as  soon  as  fledo;- 

A.  U.  C.  '  .  . 

787.  ed,  and  able  to  trust  to  its  win^s,  is  to  per- 
34.  form  the  obsequies  of  his  father.  But  this 
duty  is  not  undertaken  rashly.  He  collects 
a  quantity  of  myrrh,  and,  to  tr}'  his  strength, 
makes  frequent  excursions  with  a  load  on 
his  back.  When  he  has  made  his  experi- 
ment through  a  long  tract  of  air,  and  gains 
sufficient  confidence  in  liis  own  viii-oiir,  he 
takes  up  the  body  of  his  father,  and  flies 
with  it  to  the  altar  of  the  sun,  where  he 
leaves  it  to  be  consumed  in  flames  of  fra- 
o'rance.  Such  is  the  account  of  this  extraor- 
flinary  bird.  It  has,  no  doubt,  a  mixture  o** 
fable ;  but  that  the  phoenix,  from  tniie  to 
time,  appears  in  yEgypt,  seems  to  be  a  fact 
sufficiently  ascertained. 

XXIX.  Rome  continued  to  stream  with 
the  blood  of  eminent  citizens.  Pomponius 
Laheo,  who  had  been,  as  already  mentioned, 
governor  of  Mysia,  opened  his  veins  and 
bled  to  deatli.  Ili.s  wife  Paxa^a  had  the  spirit 
to  follow  his  example.  Suicide  was  the  only 
refuge  from  the  hand  of  the  executioner. 
Those  who  waited  for  the  sentence  of  the 
4 


OF    TACITUS.  375 

law  incurred  a  forfeiture,  and  were,  besides,  ^^p^ 
deprived  of  the  rites  of  sepulture  ;  while  to 
such  as  died  bv  their  own  hand,  funeral  cere- 
monies  were  allowed,  and  their  Avills  were 
valid.  Such  was  the  reward  of  dispatch  !  (a) 
Self-destruction  was  made  the  interest  of 
mankind.  One  the  subject  of  Labeo's  death, 
Tiberius  wrote  to  the  senate,  lie  observed, 
"  that  in  ancient  times,  when  all  ties  of 
'*  friendship  were  to  be  dissolved,  it  was  the 
''  custom  to  give  notice  to  the  discarded 
"  party,  that  his  visits  were  no  longer  agree- 
"  able.  In  that  manner  he  had  acted  with 
*'  Labeo  :  all  connection  w^asatan  end.  But 
*'  that  unhappy  man,  finding  himself  charg- 
*'  ed  with  the  iniquity  of  his  government, 
''  and  pressed  by  the  weight  of  other  crimes, 
*'  made  a  shew  of  injured  innocence,  with 
'"'  intent  to  throw  the  odium  of  his  death  on 
''  the  emperor.  The  example  was  fatal  to 
*'  his  wife.  She  took  the  alarm,  and  perish- 
"  ed  with  her  husband.  She  might  have 
''  quelled  her  fears  ;  for,  though  her  guilt  was 
"  manifest,  she  might  have  lived  in  safety." 

A  new  prosecution  was  connnenced  against 
Mamercus  Scaurus  r^J^a  distinguished  sena- 


376  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    tor,  famous  as  well  for  his   eloquence  as  the 
*-f^~  nobility  of  his   birth,  but  a  libertine  in  his 

^87^     conduct.     He  had  been  connected  with  Se- 
^-     janus,  but  on  that  account  no  danger  threat- 
ened him.  The  enmity  of  Macro,  who  prac^ 
tised  the  wiles  of  Sejanus,  but  with  deeper 
policy,  was  the  cause  of  his  ruin.  A  tragedy, 
written  by  Scaurus,  was  the  ground  of  the 
charge.     Some   lines   were  cited   from   the 
piece,  and,  by  a  strained  construction,  said 
to  point  obliquely  at  Tiberius.  But  to  make 
sure  work,   Servihus  and  Cornelius,  two  in- 
formers by  profession,  accused  him  of  adul- 
tery with  the  younger  Livia  fcj,  and  of  se- 
cret practices    in  the  magic  art.     Scaurus, 
with  a  spirit  worthy  of  the  ancient  ^Emihi, 
from  whom  he  was  descended,  resolved  not 
to  linger  for  a   public  sentence.     His  wife 
Sexitia  exhorted  him  to  an  act  of  bravery, 
and  died  herself,  with  the  courage  which  she 
recommended. 

XXX.  Amidst  these  acts  of  violence,  the 
informers,  in  their  turn,  were  abandoned  to 
their  fate.  Servilius  and  Cornehus,  who,  by 
their  conduct  to  Scaurus,  had  brouoht  on 
themselves    the    public     detestation,    were 


OF    TACITUS.  37 

charged  with  taking  a  bribe,  to  compound  book 
a  prosecution  commenced  by  tliemselves 
ai?;ainst  Yarius  Lio;ur.  They  were  both  in- 
terdicted  from  fire  and  water,  and  transport- 
ed to  the  islands.  A  similar  fate  attended 
Abudius  Rufo.  This  man  had  discharged  the 
office  of  a?dile,  and  also  served,  at  the  head 
of  a  legion,  under  Lentulus  Ga?tulicus.  Pie 
turned  informer  aoainst  his  commanding;  of- 
ficer,  alleging  that  he  had  projected  a  match 
between  his  daughter  and  one  of  the  sons  of 
Sejanus.  He  construed  this  into  a  crime, 
and  for  the  attempt  was  banished  from  Rome. 
At  the  time  when  this  prosecution  was  set 
on  foot,  GcCtuUcus  commanded  tlie  legions 
in  Upper  Germany,  Distinguished  by  his 
clemency,  and  without  rigour  maintaining 
military  discipline,  he  was  the  idol  of  the  sol- 
diers. By  his  interest  with  his  fatlier-in-iaw, 
Lucius  Apronius,  he  was  also  high  in  credit 
with  the  other  army,  which  was  stationed  at 
a  small  distance.  In  this  situation,  it  is  said, 
not  without  probability,  that  he  had  tlie 
courage  to  dispatch  a  letter  to  Tiberius,  to 
the  following  effect :  "  The  proposed  alliance 
''  with  Stjanus  did  not  originate  with  him- 
*'self:  the  emperor  had  reconnnended  it. 
'■•'  The  meanest  citizen  is  liable  to  error,  no 


«f 


378  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    '^  less  than  the  prince.  To  mistake  with  im- 

VI.  ^ 

^'  pinut}^  cannot  be    the  prerogative  of  the 
"  emperor,  and,  at  the  same  time,  a  crime  in 
''  others.    For  himself,  his  lidehty  remained 
''  inviolate,  and,  if  no  snare  was  laid  for  his 
*'  ruin,  nothing  could  shake  his   principles. 
''  Should  a  successor  be   sent  to  supersede 
*'  him  in  the  command,  he  should  understand 
*Mt  as  the  prologue  to  a  sentence  of  con- 
"  demnation.  But  there  were  conditions,  on 
*'  which  something  like  a  treaty  between  both 
*'  parties  might  be  settled  :  he  desired  to  re- 
*'  main  unmolested  in  the  government  of  the 
"  province,  and  Tiberius  might  give  the  law 
*'  to  the  rest  of  tlie  Roman  world."    Incredi- 
ble as  this  anecdote  may  appear,  it  gains  an 
air  of  authenticitv,   Avhen  it  is  considered, 
that,  of  all  the  favourites  of  Sejanus,  Ga^tu- 
licus  was  the  only  person  who  had  the  secret 
to  preserve  his  life,  and  live  in  the  good  graces 
of  the  prince.   The  truth  is,  Tiberius  knew 
that  he    had  incurred    the    public    hatred. 
Worn  out  with  asjje  and  infirmities,  he  was 
^vise  enou2;h  to  reflect,  that  fame  and  the 
opinion  of  mankind,  rather  than  the  exercise 
of  power,  must  for  the  future  be  the  pillari; 
of  his  government. 


OF  TACITUS.  379 

XX XT.  In  the  consulsliip  of  Caius  Ces-  book 
tius  (a)  ainl  ?vfarcus  Serviliiis,  a  deputation 
from  the  Parthian  nobihty,  without  tlie  con- 
currence or  privity  of  Artabanus,  their  king, 
arrived  at  Rome.  While  tlie  arms  of  Ger- 
manicus  filled  the  East  with  terror,  that  mo« 
narcli  continued  to  adliere  with  good  faith  to 
the  Romans,  and  to  rule  his  own  dominions 
with  equity  and  moderation.  He  broke  out 
afterwards  with  open  violence ;  to  Rome, 
proud  and  arrogant ;  to  his  people,  fierce  and 
unrelenting.  The  prosperous  events  of  war 
Avith  the  neighbouring  nations  inspired  him 
with  the  pride  and  insolence  of  victory.  He 
saw  Tiberius,  in  the  decline  of  life,  a  feeble 
prince  f />J,  disarmed  and  powerless.  Armenia 
was  the  object  of  liis  ambition.  Artaxias  (^cj, 
king  of  the  country,  was  no  sooner  dead,  than 
lie  placed  his  eldest  son,  Arsaces,  on  the  va- 
cant throne.  His  arrogance  did  not  stop  there. 
By  his  ambassadors  he  demanded,  in  haughty 
and  imperious  terms,  immediate  restitution 
of  the  treasures  left  by  Yonones  (d)  in  Syria 
and  Cilicia.  He  laid  claim,  besides,  to  all  the 
territories,  formerly  belonging  to  the  Persians 
and  JNIacedonians.  Ho  added,  in  a  style  of 
vain  glory,  that  whatever  was  possessed  by 
Cyrus,  and  afterwards  by  Alexander,  was  his 


380 


THE    ANNALS 


BOOK    uiidoiiblcd  riglit,  and  he  was  determined  to 
recover  the  same  by  force  of  arms. 

The  Parthians,  in  the  mean  time,  by  the 
advice  of  Sinnaces,  a  man  of  great  opulence 
and  noble  birth,  sent  their  secret  embassy  to 
Rome.  The  measure  was  supported  by  Ab- 
dus  (e),  the  eunuch.  In  the  eastern  nations 
the  loss  of  manhood  is  no  dei^radation  :  on 
the  contrary,  it  leads  to  power  and  prefer- 
ment. With  those  two  leadinii  chiefs  the 
grandees  of  Parthia  entered  into  a  conspiracy. 
But  still  to  wear  the  regal  diadem,  one  only 
of  the  race  of  the  Arsacides  could  be  found. 
The  greatest  part  of  that  family  Avas  cut  off 
by  Artabanus,  and  the  survivors  were  too 
young  to  govern.  Tiie  Parthians,  therefore, 
desired  that  Tiberius  would  send  Phraates 
(fj,  son  of  the  king  of  that  name,  to  mount 
the  throne  of  his  ancestors.  That  title  and 
the  sanction  of  Pome  would  be  sufficient. 
Let  a  prince  of  the  house  of  Arsaces,"  under 
the  protection  of  Tiberius,  shew  himself  on 
the  banks  of  the  Euphrates,  and  notlung 
more^was  necessary  ;  a  revolution  would  be 
the  certain  consequence. 

XXXII.  The   enterprise   was  agreeable 


OF    TACITUS.  381 

to  the  wishes  of  Tiberius.     He  dispatched   book 
Phraates,  enriched  with  presents,  and  every  '^''^ 
mark  of  splendour  suited  to  the  royal  dignity,    ^'f^; 
Bat  still  it  was  his  fixed  plan  not  to  depart      ^^• 
from  his  former  resolution  to  work  by  stra- 
tagem, and,  if  possible,  to  avoid  a  war.  The 
secret  transpired  at  the  Parthian  court,  Ar- 
tabanus  was  thrown  into   a  state  of  violent 
perplexity.  Revenge  and  fear  took  possession 
of  him  bv  turns.     In  the  idea  of  an  eastern 
monarch,  indecision  is  the  mark  of  a  servile 
mind.  Vigour  and  sudden  enterprise  are  at- 
tributes of  the  royal  character.     In  the  pre- 
sent juncture,  those  notions  gave  way,andliis 
interest  conquered  prejudices.     He   invited 
Abdus  to  a  banquet,  and,  by  a  slow  poison, 
rendered  him  unfit  for  action.  With  Sinnaces 
he  thought  it  best  to  dissemble.     He  loaded 
him  with  presents,  and,  by  employing  him  in 
state  affairs,  left  him  no  leisure  for  clandestine 
machinations.     Meanwhile  Phraates  arrived 
in  Syria.  Willing  to  conform  to  the  customs 
of  the  East,  he  threw  off  the  dress  and  man- 
ners of  the  Romans.  The  transition,  however^ 
w^as  too  violent ;  and  his  constitution  proving 
unequal  to  so  sudden  a  change,  he  was  carried 
oft"  by  a  fit  of  illness.  Tiberius  was  unwilling 
^o  relinquish  a  measure  which  he  had  once 


.332  THE    ANNA  Is 

BOOK   approved.  He  named   Tiridates,   descended 
Y~X^  fr<^>^i  ^^le  same  stock  with  Phraates,  as  a  lit 

A^  U.  C 

788.     I'ival  to^  contend  with  Artabanus. 

A.D. 

35. 

In  order  to  recover  the  kinodom  of  Arme- 
nia,  he  entered  into  an  alliance  with  Mith- 
ridates,  a  prince  of  the  Iberian  line,  having 
beforehand  contrived  to  reconcile  him  to  his 
brother  Pharasmanes,  then  the  reianins:  mo- 
narch  of  Iberia.     An  important   scene  was 
now  open  in  the  east.  To  conduct  the  whole, 
Tiberius  gave  the  command  to  Lucius  Vitel- 
lius  fa  J.  The  character  of  this  officer  is  well 
known.    He  shewed  himself  in  his  true  co- 
lours to  the  people  of  Rome,  insomuch  that 
his  memory  is  held  in  detestation.     In  the 
East,  however,  his  conduct  v/as  irreproach- 
able. He  acted  in  the  province  with  the  inte- 
grity of  an  ancient  Roman.  After  his  return 
he    renounced  that   character  altogether,  a 
ready  apostate  from  every  virtue.  His  dread 
of  Caligula,  and  his  intimacy  with  Claudius, 
transformed  him  into  an  abject  slave.    He  is 
now   remembered  as  a  model  of  the  vilest 
adulation.     What  was  praise-worthy  in  the 
beginning  of  his  days,  changed   to  infamy  in 
his  riper  years.     Thq  virtues  of  youth  gave 
way  to  the  vices  of  age. 


OF  TACITUb\  383 

XXXIII.  MiTHRiDATEs  was  the  first  of  book 

Vl.i 

the  petty  kings  of  Asm,  who  took  a  decisive 

part.     He    drew    his    brother   Pharasinanes 

into  the  league,  and  engaged  tha.t  monarch  to 

employ  both  force  and  stratagem  to  promote 

the  enterprise.     By  their  agents  they  bribed 

the  servants  of  Arsaces  to  end  their  master^s 

life  by  poison.     The   Iberians,  in  the  mean 

time,  entered  Armenia  with  aimmerousarmy, 

and  took  possession  of  the  city  of  Artaxata. 

On  the  first  intelligence  Artabanus  dispatched 

his  son  Ox'odes,  at  the  head  of  the  Parthian 

forces,  to  oppose  the  enem}^  aiid,  in  the  mean 

time,  sent  out  his  officers  to  negociate  for  a 

body   of  auxiliaries.     Pharasmanes,  on   his 

part,  spared  no  pains  to  reinforce  his  army. 

lie  en2:aL>ed  the  Albanians  in  his  service,  lie 

listed   tlie  Sarmatians  ;  but    a  part  of  that 

people,  called  the  Sceptucians,  were  willing, 

accordinij:  to  the  custom  of  the  nation,  to  be 

hired  by  any  of  the  powers  at  war,  the  ready 

mercenaries  in  every  quarrel.     They  were  at 

that  time  actually  engaged  on  both  sides,  and 

of  course  divided  against  themselves.     The 
I 
'  Iberians,  having;  secured  the  defiles  and  nar- 

row  passes  of  the  country,  poured  down  from 

the  Caspian  mountai;is  a  large  bodjr'  of  their 


384  'THE    ANKALS 

^^^^  Sarmatlan  auxiliaries,  and  soon  over-mn  all 
Armenia.  The  Parthians  were  not  able  to 
advance.  Tlie  enemy  was  in  force  at  every 
post,  one  only  road  excepted,  and  that,  ex- 
tending between  the  Caspian  sea  and  the 
mountains  of  Albania,  was  impassable  in  the 
summer  months.  In  that  season  of  the  j'ear 
the  Etesian  faj  winds  blow  constantly  one 
way,  and,  driving  the  waves  before  them,  lay 
the  country  under  water.  In  the  winter,  the 
wind  from  the  south  rolls  the  flood  back  into 
the  deep,  and  leaves  the  country  a  dry  and 
naked  shore. 

XXXIV.  While  Orodes  saw  his  succours 
cut  off,  Pharasmanes  with  augmented  num- 
bers advanced  asfainst  him.  He  offered  bat- 
tie,  but  the  enemy  declined  the  conflict.  Tlie 
Iberian  rode  up  to  the  entrenchments  ;  he 
endeavoured  to  provoke  the  enemy  ;  he  cut 
off  their  forage,  and  invested  their  camp.  The 
Parthians,  not  used  to  brook  dishonour,  ga- 
thered in  a  body  round  the  prince,  and  de- 
manded the  decision  of  the  sword.  Their 
maiu  strength  consisted  in  their  cavalry, 
Pharasmanes  added  to  his  horse  a  large  body 
of  infantry.  His  own  subjects,  and  tlie  forces 


t)F  TACITUSi  385 


from  Albania,  dwelling  cbieflv^  in  Avilcls  and    book 
forests,  were  inured,  bv  tbeir  mode  of  life,  to  ':;^^''^ 

'  'J  ^  A.  U.  C. 

labour  and  fatigue.     If  we  may  believe  the    ^^^ 
account  which  they  give  of  their  origin,  they      ^^• 
are  descended  from  the  people  of  Thessaly, 
who  folio vv^ed  Jason  when  that  adventurer, 
having  issue  by  Medea,  returned  to  Colchis, 
on  the  death  of  iEetes,  to  take  possession  of 
the  vacant  throne.     Concernino-  the  Greek 
hero,  and  the  oracle  of  Phr3^xus  f^O^  various 
traditions  are  current  amongst  them.  For  the 
last  their  veneration  is  such,  that  in  their  sa- 
crifices a  ram  is  never  offered  as  a  victim,  the 
people  conceiving  that  Phryxus  vras  convey- 
ed across  the  sea  by  an  animal  of  that  species, 
or  in  a  ship  with  that  figure  at  the  head.  The 
two  armies  were  drawn  out  in  order  of  battle. 
Orodes,  to   animate  the  valour  of  his  men, 
called  to  their  mind  tlie  glory  of  the  eastern 
empire,  andtheraceof  the  Arsacides.  "  They 
*'  were  now  to  cope  with  a  band  of  merce- 
*'  naries,  led  by   an  Iberian  chief,   of  mean 
*'  extraction,  ignoble,  and  obscure."    In  the 
opposite  army,  Pharasmanes  pressed  every 
topic  that  could  inflame  the  ardour  of  his 
troops.  "  They  were  men  who  never  yielded 
"  to  the  Parthian  yoke :  they  fought  now  for 

VOL.    II.  C  C 


386  THE  ANNALS 


BOOK    <-  conquest:    the  more  bold  the  enterprize, 
''^^^-'  ^'  the  greater  would  be  their  olory.     If  they 

^.  U.  C.  ^  o         v'  ^ 

788      cc  o^ve  ijround,  or  turned  their  backs  on  the 

AD.  o  I?  ' 

'■^^'  ^'  enemy,  shame  and  ruin  would  pursue  them. 
'*  Look  round/'  he  said,  ''  and  view  botli 
''  armies.  Behold  on  our  side  a  dreadful 
"  front  of  war ;  on  that  of  the  enemy  an  un- 
^^  warlike  band  of  Medes,  gay  in  their  ap- 
"  parel,  and  glittering  with  gold.  Here  we 
'^  have  men  and  steel ;  there  cowards,  and 
*'  booty  to  reward  our  valour." 

XXXV.  In  the  Sarmatian  ranks  it  was 
not  the  general  only  that  harangued  the  men. 
By  mutual  exhortations,  according  to  their 
custom,  they  roused  each  other's  valour. 
They  resolved  to  reserve  their  darts,  and 
rush  on  to  a  close  enj:jas>;cment.  The  field  of 
battle  presented  an  attack  in  different  forms. 
The  Parthians,  skilled  alike  in  the  onset  and 
the  retreat,  endeavoured  to  open  their  ranks, 
in  order  to  i^ain  room  for  the  discharije  of 
their  arrows.  The  Sarmatians  threw  their 
bows  aside,  determined  with  their  swords  and 
pikes  to  decide  the  fortune  of  the  day.  In 
one  place  was  seen  an  engagement  of  the  ca- 
valry ;   they  advanced  to  the  cliarge ;    they 


OP    TACITUS.  387 

wheeled  about ;  they  changed  with  sudden  book 
velocity.  In  another  quarter  the  infantry 
fought  hand  to  hand,  and  buckler  to  buckler. 
Tliey  attacked,  and  were  repulsed  ;  they 
wounded,  and  were  wounded.  The  Iberians 
and  Albanians  grappled  with  the  enemy ; 
they  pulled  them  by  main  force  from  their 
horses  ;  they  distracted  them  by  two  differ- 
ent modes  of  engaging.  Their  cavalry  rush- 
ed on,  and  their  infantry  stood  close  embo- 
died.  The  two  adverse  generals,  Orodes  and 
Pharasmanes,  exerted  every  effort.  They 
rushed  into  the  heat  of  the  action  :  they  en- 
couraged  the  brave  ;  they  rallied  the  broken 
ranks,  and  signalised  themselves  in  every 
part  of  the  field.  Conspicuous  to  all,  at 
length  they  knew  each  other.  At  the  sight, 
with  instinctive  fury,  their  horses  at  full 
speed,  they  rushed  forward  to  the  charge,  bel- 
lowing revenge,  and  darting  their  javelins. 
Pharasmanes,  with  a  well-directed  weapon, 
pierced  the  helmet  of  Orodes  ;  but,  hurried 
on  by  the  fury  of  his  horse,  he  was  not  able 
to  pursue  his  advantage.  Orodes  was  shel- 
tered by  his  Guards  who  flew  to  his  assistance. 
A  report  that  he  w^as  slain  spread  through 
the  ranks.     The  spirit  of  the  Parthians  be- 

c  c  2 


588  THE   ANNALS 


BOOK   gaii  to   droop,  and  victory  declared  for  the 
Iberians. 

XXXVI.  Artabanus,  to  repair  the  loss, 
marched  with  the  whole  stren«;th  of  his  kin<»- 
dom.     The  Iberians  knew  the  course  of  the 
country,  and  by  their  valour  gained  a  se^ 
cond  victory.     The  Parthian,  notwithstand- 
ing, kept  tlie  field  till  such  time  as  Vitellius 
advanced  with  his  leo;ions,  intendino-    as  was 
industriously  given  out,  to  enter  jMesopota- 
mia.     To  avoid  a  war  with  Rome,  the  Par- 
thian king  abandoned  Armenia,  and  returned 
to  his  own  dominions.     From  that  time  his 
ruin  may  be  dated.      Vitellius  carried  on  a 
correspondence  with  the  leading  men  of  Par- 
thia,  and,  to  incite  them  to  a  revolt,  repre- 
sented Artabanus  as  a  king,  cruel  in  time  of 
peace,  and  in  war  disastrous  to  the  whole 
nation.      Sinnaces,  at  the  head,  as  already 
mentioned,  of  a  powerful  faction,  drew  to  his 
interest  his    father,    Abdageses,    and   other 
malecontents,  who  were  now,  by  the  unpros- 
pei'ous  events  of  war,  determined  to  throw 
oft  the  mask.    A  great  number  through  fear, 
and  not  from  principle,    hitherto   inactive, 
went  over   to    the  disaffected.      Artabanus 
found  himself  deserted  on  every  side.     lie 


35. 


OF  TACITUS.  389 

had  only  one  expedient  left.     He  chose  for    booic 
his  body-guard  a  band  of  mercenaries,  men  "^TTV 
void  of  honour,  the  outcast  of  their  country,     l^^ 
to  good  and  evil,  vice  and  virtue,  alike  in- 
different, and  for  their  hire  ready  to  perpe-* 
trate  every  crime.     With    these  attendants 
the  fugitive  monarch  souoht  the  frontiers  of 
Scythia.     His  ruined   cause,  he  still  hoped, 
would  tind  support  from    the  Carmanians, 
and   the  people  of  Hyrcania,  with  whom  he 
was  connected  by  ties  of  affinity.     He  relied, 
moreover,  on  the  fickle  temper  of  the  Par- 
thians.     A  wavering  and  inconstant  people, 
always  disgusted  with  the  reigning  prince,  and, 
after  his  expulsion,  prone  to  repent,  might 
act  towards  himself  with  the  same  versatility, 
and  once  more  declare  in  his  favour. 

XXXVII.  The  throne  beino-  in  this  man- 
ner  vacant,  and  the  Parthians,  in  their  ra^ic 
for  innovation,  appearing  ready  to  embrace 
a  new  master,  Vitellius  thought  it  time  to 
fire  the  ambition  of  Tiridates,  and  to  sup- 
port him  in  the  enterprize,  marched  witii  the 
auxiliaries,  and  the  strenoth  of  his  lesjions, 
to  the  banks  of  the  Euphrates.  In  order  to 
propitiate  the  river  god  faj,  preparations 
were  made  for  a  solemn  sacrifice.     The  Ko- 


390  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK   man,   accordiiisj  to  the  rites  of  his  country, 

VI.  ^  o  J  ' 

offered  a  swine,  a  ram,  and  a  bull  ;  a  horse 
was  the  victim  slain  by  Tiridates.  While 
they  were  thus  employed,  the  people  of  the 
country  came  in  with  an  account  that  the 
Euphrates,  without  any  fall  of  rain,  swelled 
miraculously  above  its  banks,  and,  the  waves 
with  a  rapid  motion  turning  round  in  cir- 
cling eddies,  the  foam  on  the  surface  pre- 
sented the  form  of  a  diadem.  This  was  deem- 
ed a  favourable  omen.  By  others,  who  judged 
with  more  penetration,  the  prognostic  was 
seen  in  a  diiferent  liglit.  According  to  their 
interpretation,  it  promised  success  at  first, 
and  a  speedy  reverse  of  fortune.  In  support 
of  this  opinion  it  was  observed,  that  the 
earth  and  heavens  hold  forth  unerring  sig- 
nals :  but  the  omens,  collected  from  the  ap- 
pearance of  rivers,  were,  like  the  element 
from  which  they  spring,  always  uncertain. 
They  appear  and  vanish  in  a  moment. 

Abridge  of  boats  being  prepared,  the  whole 
army  passed  over  the  Euphrates.  While  they 
lay  encamped,  Ornospades,  at  the  head  of  a 
large  body  of  cavalry,  amounting  to  several 
thousands,  came  in  as  an  auxiliary.  This  man 
was  a  native  of  Parthia,  formerly  banished 


OF    TACITUS.  391 

from  his  country  ;  but  for  his  services  under  book 
Tiberius,  during  the  war  in  Dalmatia  (bj,  ad- 
mitted to  the  privileges  of  a  Roman  citizen. 
Beino-  afterwards  reconciled  to  his  native 
prince,  he  rose  to  the  first  honours  of  the 
state,  and  was  appointed  governor  of  that 
whole  region  which  hes  between  the  Tigris 
and  tlie  Eupln-ates,  for  that  reason  called 
JMesopotamia  (aj.  Sinnaces,  in  a  short 
time  after,  joined  the  army  with  a  strong  re- 
inforcement. Abdageses,  the  pillar  of  the 
party,  delivered  up  the  royal  treasure,  and 
the  richest  ornaments  of  the  crown.  Vitellius 
considered  the  business  as  finished.  The 
Roman  eagles  appeared  on  the  banks  of  the 
Euphrates,  and  more  was  unnecessary.  He 
gave  his  best  advice  to  Tiridates,  and  the 
authors  of  the  revolution.  Addressing  him- 
self to  the  prince,  "  Remember,"  he  said, 
''  that  you  are  the  grandson  of  Phraates,  and 
*•'  that  you  have  been  trained  up  by  Tiberius : 
"  let  that  reflection  be  ever  present  to  your 
*'  mind  :  it  'will  animate  you  in  the  career  of 
*'  glory."  lie  exhorted  the  grandees  of  Par- 
tliia  to  pay  obedience  to  their  king,  and  due 
respect  to  the  Roman  name.  By  being  faith- 
ful to  both,  they  would  at  once  fulfd  their 
engagements,    and   maintain    th.cir   honour. 


393  THE    ANNALS 


VI. 


BOOK    Havincf  made  this  arrangement,  he  returned 
with  his  legions  into  Syria. 

XXXVIII.  In  relatinoj  these  transac« 
tions,  I  have  thrown  togetlier,  in  one  con- 
nected series,  the  business  of  two  campaigns  ; 
in  order,  by  a  view  of  Asiatic  aftairs,  to  re- 
lieve the  attention  of  the  reader,  and  give  tlie 
mind  some  ixspite  from  domestic  misery. 
From  the  death  of  Sejanus  three  years  had 
elapsed,  and  yet  neither  time  nor  supplica- 
tions, nor  even  a  deluge  of  blood,  could 
soften  the  cruelty  of  Tiberius.  Things  that 
mitii2:ate  the  resentment  of  others,  made  no 
impression  on  that  unforo;iving  temper.  Crimes 
of  an  ancient  date  were  revived  as  recent 
facts,  and  charges  without  proof  passed  for 
demonstrations  of  guilt.  The  band  of  in- 
formers joined  in  a  league  against  Fulcinius 
Trio  CaJ-  That  citizen,  knowing  that  his 
fate  was  determined,  put  an  end  to  his  life. 
In  his  will  he  spoke  in  the  bitterest  terms  of 
Macro,  and  the  emperor's  freed  men.  Nor 
did  he  spare  Tiberius.  Ilis  understanding, 
he  said,  was  reduced  by  3^ears  an(l  infninity 
to  a  state  of  dotage,  and  his  long  absence 
was  no  better  than  banishment  from  his 
country.    These  reflections  the  heirs  of  Trio 


OF  TACITUS.  _  393 

wisjied  to  suppress  ;    but  Tiberius  ordered    book 
the  Avili  to  be  read  in  public ;  perhaps  to  shew  ' — > — » 

A.  U.  C. 

the  world  that  he  could  allow  full  libert}'-  of  p^^ 
thinking,  and  despise  the  censure  that  point-  "^• 
ed  at  himself;  perhaps,  having  been  for 
jnany  years  blind  to  the  villainy  of  Sejanus, 
he  chose,  at  last,  that  invectives  of  every 
sort  should  be  brought  to  light,  to  the  end 
that  truth,  always  warped  by  flattery,  might 
reach  his  ear,  though  undisguised,  and  at  the 
expence  of  his  reputation.  About  the  same 
time  died  by  his  own  hand  Granius  ]\Iartia~ 
nus,  a  member  of  the  senate,  who  found  him- 
self attacked  by  Caius  Gracchus  on  the  law 
of  violated  majesty.  Tatius  Granius,  who 
had  served  the  oiHce  of  praetor,  was  prose- 
cuted in  like  manner,  and  condemned  to 
suffer  death. 

XXXIX.  The  same  fate  attended  Tre- 
bellienus  Hufus  (a J  and  Se?itius  Paconianus  ; 
the  former  dispatched  himself,  and  the  latter, 
for  some  sarcastic  verses  against  the  empe- 
ror, the  production  of  his  prison-hours,  was 
strangled  in  the  jail.  Of  all  these  tragic  scenes 
Tiberius  had  the  earliest  intellioience  ;  not,  as 
before,  by  messengers  that  crossed  the  sea  to 
the  isle  of  Caprea3 ;  he  heard  the  news  in  the 


394  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  very  iieiglibourhoocl  of  Rome,  hoverini^^ 
about  the  city  at  so  small  a  distance,  that 
often  on  the  same  day,  or,  at  most,  a  single 
nio;ht  intervening',  the  consuls  received  his 
answers  to  their  dispatches,  and  his  final  or- 
ders for  immediate  vengeance.  He  placed 
himself  in  a  situation  so  near  the  theatre  of 
horror,  that  he  could  almost  see  the  blood 
that  streamed  in  every  family,  and  hear  the 
stroke  of  the  executioner. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  died  Pop- 
pa3us  Sabinus  (bj,  a  man  of  humble  birth, 
but,  by  the  partiality  of  two  emperors,  rais- 
ed to  the  consulship,  and  distinguished  by 
triumphal  honours.  During  a  series  of  four- 
and-twenty  years,  the  goverimient  of  consi- 
derable provinces  ^vas  committed  to  his  care, 
not  for  any  extraordinary  talents,  but  be-^ 
cause  he  had  a  capacity  of  a  level  for  busi- 
ness, and  not  above  it. 

/.u.  c.  XL.  The  next  consulship  was  that  of 
A.D.  QuintusPlautiiisand  SextusPapinius.  In  the 
course  -jf  this  year  Lucius  Aruseius  and  others 
died  under  the  hand  of  the  executioner  :  their 
fate,  h>>wever  cruel,  passed  unheeded  among 
the  common  occurrences  of  the  time.  Scenes 


i>0. 


OF    TACITUS.  395 

of  blood  were  <>towii  familiar,  and  made  no   book 

impression.    And  yet  the  fate  of  Vibuleiius  ^^'^ — » 
.  .  .  A.  u.  a 

Agrippa   was  attended    with    cireumstances    ^^J^ 

tliat  struck  a  general  panic.  His  trial  came  "'^' 
on  before  the  senate.  As  soon  as  the  pro- 
secutors closed  their  case,  he  swallowed  a 
deadly  poison,  which  he  had  concealed  under 
his  robe,  and  instantly  expired.  lie  was 
seized,  notwithstanding,  and  in  that  con- 
dition dragged  to  a  dungeon,  where  the  lictor 
fastened  his  cord  fa  J  round  the  neck  of  a 
dead  man.  Even  Tigranes  (b),  who  had 
formerly  swaj'cd  the  sceptre  of  Armenia, 
suffered  without  distinction.  The  title  of 
royalty  did  not  exempt  him  from  the  lot  of  a 
common  citizen. 

Cains  Galba  (c),  of  consular  rank,  and  the 
two  Bla?si,  embraced  a  volimtary  death  ;  Gal- 
ba, because  by  letters  from  Tiberius,  written 
in  terms  of  acrimony,  he  was  excluded  from 
the  usual  mode  of  obtaining  a  proA^ince  by  lot ; 
and  the  Bla\si,  because  the  order  of  priest- 
jiood,  which  had  been  promised  in  their  day 
of  prosperity,  was,  since  they  were  no  longer 
in  favour,  withheld  from  them,  and  to  those 
vacant  dignities  others  were   appointed.    A 


596  THE    ANNAUS 


«-'t/ 


cf 


BOOK    step  so  decisive  they  considered  as  nothin 

VI.  .  '  ■ 

less  than  a  siii;nal  to  die  ;  and  they  obeyed. 


iEmiha  Lepida  (d),  -svhose  marriage  with 
Drusus  has  been  mentioned,  remained,  during 
the  Hfe  of  Lepidus  her  father,  in  perfect  se- 
curity, but  detested  by  th.e  pubhc.  Her  pro- 
tector beins;  now  no  more,  the  informers 
seized  their  opportunity,  and  accused  her  of 
adultery  with  a  slave.  Of  her  guilt  no  doubt 
was  entertained.  She  made  no  defence,  but 
executed  justice  on  herself. 

XLI".  About  this  time  theCliteans,  a  peo- 
ple subject  to  Arclielaus,  king  of  Cappa- 
docia,  impatient  of  being  taxed  according  to 
the  system  practised  in  the  Roman  provinces, 
made  a  secession  to  the  heig^hts  of  mount 
Taurus.  Being  there  possessed  of  the  ad- 
vantage-ground, they  were  able  to  defend 
themselves  against  their  sovereign,  and  his 
mi  wad  ike  troops.  To  quell  the  insur- 
gents, Vitellius,  governor  of  Syria,  dispatch-^ 
ed  Marcus  Trebellius,  at  the  head  of  four 
thousand  legionary  soldiers,  and  a  select  de- 
tachment of  auxiliaries.  The  Barbarians 
'    had  taken  post  on  two  hills ;  the  least  was 

\ 


A.  U.  C 

7SP. 

A.  D. 


OF   TACITUS.  397 

called  Cadra,  and  the  other Davara.  Tie-   book 
bellius  inclosed  both  with  ihies  of  circumval- 
kiLioii.     All  who  dared  to  sally  out  w'ere  put     '^- 
to  the  sword  ;  the  restw^ere  reduced  by  thirst     ^^- 
and  famine. 

IMeanwhile,  Tiridates  was  well  ni^h  esta- 
blished  on  the  throne  of  Parthia.  The 
cities  of  Nicephoriiun,  Autheniusia,  and 
other  places,  originally  settled  by  the  ]\Ia~ 
cedonians,  and  from  their  founders  deriviuir 


names  of  Greek  termination,  opened  their 
gates  to  the  new  monarch.  lialus  and  Ar- 
temita,  two  Parthian  cities,  followed  the 
example  ;  the  people  every  where  vying  with 
each  other  in  demonstrations  of  joy.  A  re* 
volution,  by  wdiich  Artabanus,  a  tyrant  bred 
among  the  Scythians,  was  driven  from  the 
throne,  oave  universal  satisfaction  to  the 
Parthians.  They  knew  that  Tiridates  had 
been  educated  among  the  Romans,  and,  froin 
his  arts  of  civilization,  expected  a  mild  and 
equitable  government. 

XLII.  The  inhabitants  of  Seleucia  (a)  de- 
clared for  the  new  king  in  a  style  of  flattery 
that  exceeded  ail  their  neighbours.  Seleucia 
is  a  fortiiicd  city  of  con.^iderable  strength. 


398  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  The  barbarity  of  Parthian  manners  never 
iiaincd  admission  amongst  tliem.  Beino'  a  co- 
lony  planted  by  Seleucus,  they  still  retained 
the  institutions  of  their  Grecian  founder.  A 
bod}"  of  three  lumdred,  chosen  for  their  v/ealth 
or  superior  wisdom,  gave  the  form  of  a  se- 
nate. The  people  have  their  share  in  the 
i>'overnnient.  When  both  orders  act  with  a. 
.spirit  of  union,  they  are  too  strong  for  the  Par- 
thians.  If  they  clash  among  themselves,  and 
one  faction  looks  abroad  for  support,  the 
foreign  prince,  who  arrives  as  the  friend  of  a 
party,  becomes  the  oppressor  of  all.  In  the 
reign  of  Artabanus  this  fatal  consequence 
Avas  actually  felt.  That  monarch  threw  the 
whole  weiglit  into  the  scale  of  the  nobles, 
and  the  people,  by  consequence,  were  sur- 
rendered as  the  slaves  of  a  violent  aristocracy. 
This  form  of  2;overnment  was  asfrecable  to 
the  ideas  of  eastern  despotism.  A  regular 
democracy  holds  too  much  of  civil  liberty, 
while  the  domination  of  the  few  differs  but 
little  from  absolute  monarchy. 

The  reception  of  Tiridates  at  Seleucia,  was 
splend id  beyond  all  example.  To  the  homage 
which  the  practice  of  ages  had  established, 
new  honours  were  added  by  the  inventive 


OF  TACITUS.  3.99 

genius  of  flatteiy.     Amidst  tlic  applause  and   book 
acclamations  of  the  people,  I'cproaches  loud  ^--^v — » 

A.  U.  C. 

and  vehement  were  thrown  out  against  Ar-     '«9- 

"  A.D. 

tabanus,  a  man  related,  by  the  maternal  line  •'^^• 
only,  to  the  house  of  the  Arsacida?,  and,  by 
his  actions,  a  disgrace  to  the  name.  Tiridates 
sided  with  the  people  of  Seleucia,  and  re- 
stored the  democracy.  A  day  for  liis  coro- 
nation was  still  to  be  fixed.  While  that  bu- 
siness was  in  agitation,  dispatches  arrived 
from  Iliero  and  Phraates,  two  leadijig  men, 
and  governors  of  extensive  provinces.  They 
desired  that  the  ceremon\r  mii>ht  be  deferred  * 

for  a  few  days.  A  request  from  men  of  their 
importance  came  witli  weight,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly followed.  The  court,  in  the  mean 
time,  removed  to  Ctesip/lion,  the  capital  of 
the  empire,  and  the  seat  of  government. 
New  delays  were  thro^v'n  in  tlie  way  by  the 
two  grandees,  and  the  business  of  the  coro- 
nation was  protracted  from  time  to  time. 
At  len2;th  the  re^'ent  of  the  countrv,  called 
tlie  SuRENAf/>J,  proceeded,  according  to  the 
national  custom,  to  solemnize  tlie  inaugura- 
tion of  the  king.  In  the  presence  of  a  nu- 
merous assembly,  and  amidst  the  shouts  and 
acclamations  of  tiie  people,  he  invested  Ti- 
ridates with  the  re";al  diadem. 


400  THE  ANNALS 

XLIII.  If,  after  this  ceremony,  Tiri- 
dates  had  penetrated  at  once  into  the  heart 
of  the  kingdom,  and  shewn  himself  to  the 
interior  provinces,  by  that  decisive  step  the 
minds  of  such  as  wavered  had  been  fixed,  and 
the  prince  had  mounted  the  throne  with  the 
consent  of  tlie  nation.  He  staid  imprudently 
to  amuse  himself  with  the  siege  of  a  castle, 
in  w  hich  were  lodged  the  concubines  of  Ar- 
tabanus,  with  all  the  royal  treasure.  The 
delay  gave  time  for  treachery  and  revolt, 
Phraates,  Hiero,  and  others  of  the  nobility, 
who  were  not  present  at  the  coronation, 
turned  their  thoughts,  with  their  usual  love 
of  innovation,  towards  the  deposed  king. 
For  this  conduct  their  motives  were  various. 
Some  acted  from  their  fears,  and  others  from 
their  ill-will  to  Abdageses,  who  had  gained 
the  supreme  authority  at  court,  and  the 
entire  ascendant  over  the  nev/  monarch.  The 
malecontents  went  in  quest  of  Artabanus. 
He  was  found  in  Ilyrcania,  covered  with 
wretchedness,  and  with  his  bow  and  arrow 
procuring  his  daily  sustenance.  On  the  first 
appearance  of  his  friends,  he  was  seized 
with  terror,  suspecting  nothing  less  than 
treachery,  and  a  design  against  his  life.  Being 
assured  of  their  fidelity,  and  their  resolution  to 


OF    TACITUS.  401 

restore  hiin  to  his  dominions,  he  fdt  his  hopes  book 
revived:  and  whence,  he  said,  this  sudden 
clian<ye  ?  Hiero  j^ave  this  answer:  "  Tiridates 
is  no  better  than  a  boy  ;  nor  is  the  royal 
dignity  vested  in  a  prince  descended  from 
'  the  hne  of  the  Arsacidir.  Enervated  by  the 
'  luxuries  of  Rome,  the  stripling  contents 
'  himseh'with  the  shadow  of  authority,  while 
'  the  whole  power  of  the  state  is  in  tlie  hands 
'  of  Abdaii;eses." 


XLI V.  The  politic  king,  formed  during  a 
long  reign  in  the  school  of  experience,  knew 
that  men,  whose  friendship  is  fallacious,  may 
notwitlistandino- be  believed,  when  tliev  avov/ 
their  hatred.    "Without  loss  of  time  he  raised 
a  supply  of  men  among  the  Scythians,  and 
marched  forward  with  intent  to  <>ive  no  time 
either  to  the  arts  of  his  enemies,  or  the  na- 
tural levity  of  his  friends.    The  sordid  habit 
in  which  he  was  fouiid,  he  still  continued  to 
wear;  hoping,  by  his  wretched  appearance,  to 
make   an   impression  on  the  passions  of  the 
multitude,     lie  omitted  nothing'  that  could 
serve  his  cause ;   by   fraud,  by  entreaty,  by 
every  artifice,  he  tried  to  allure  the  wavering, 
and  to  animate  th<^  brave.     By  ri^pid  marches 

VOL.   II.  D   D 


402  THE    Ar^XALS' 

BOOK 

;^^^^  he  soon  readied  the  neighbourhood  of  Seleu- 

A.  U.  C. 

789. 


cia,  at  the  head  of  a  powerful  army. 


A.  D. 
36. 


Tiridates,  alarmed  at  the  news  of  his  ap- 
proach, and  soon  after  terrified  at  his  actual 
presence,  began  to  deli})erate  about  the  mea- 
sures in  that  exigence  fittest  to  be  pursued. 
Should  he  try  the  issue  of  a  battle,  or  dra^v' 
the  war  into  length  ?  In  his  councils  there 
was  nothing  like  decision.  The  officers  of 
warlike  spirit  were  for  a  sudden  blow,  while 
the  rash  levies  of  Artabanus,  out  of  heart, 
fatigued  by  their  march,  and  not  yet  united 
by  principle,  had  as  yet  no  affection  for  a  king 
whom  they  had  so  lately  deposed.  Traitors 
yesterday,  they  were  now  no  better  than  pre- 
tended friends.  Abdageses  was  of  a  contrary 
ophiion.  To  retreat  into  ]\Iesopotamia  was, 
ill  his  judgment,  the  safest  measure.  Plaving 
gained  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  Tiridates 
might  there  stand  at  bay,  till  tlie  Armenians, 
the  Ely m;rans,  and  other  nations  in  their  rear, 
had  time  to  take  the  field.  Succours  miuht 
be  expected  from  the  Roman  general.  \\  hen 
their  forces  were  all  assembled,  it  would  then 
be  time  to  hazard  a  battle.  This  measure  was 
adopted.     Abdageses  was  iiigh  in  authority. 


OF  TACITUS.  403 

and  the  unwarlike  oenius  of  Tiritlates  shnmk  book 

~  VI. 

from  danger.     Their  retreat  had  the  appear-  ^''^J^ 
ance  of  an  army  put  to  the  rout.     The  con-    ^^^ 
sequences  were  fatal.     The  Arabs  were  the     ^^^ 
first  to  abandon  Tiridates  :  a  general  defection 
followed.     Some  betook  themselves  to  their 
native  home,  and  others  went   over  to  the 
standard  of  Artabanus.      Tiridates,  with   a 
handful  of  men,  passed  into  Syria,  and  by  his 
conduct  made  the  apology  of  all  who  deserted 
his  cause.  None  had  reason  to  blush  for  be- 
traying a  man,  who  betrayed  himself. 

XLV.  In  the  course  of  this  year  a  dread- 
ful fire  broke  out  at  Rome,  and  laid  mount 
Aventine,  with  part  of  the  adjoining  circus,  in 
ashes.  Tiberius  had  the  address  to  turn  this 
calamity  to  his  own  glory.  He  ordered  the 
value  of  the  houses  and  insulated  man- 
sions (a J,  which  were  destroyed,  to  be  paid 
to  the  respective  owners.  The  sum  amounted 
to  no  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  great 
sesterces.  The  munificence  of  the  prince  was 
the  more  applauded,  as  building  for  his  own 
use  was  not  his  taste.  The  temple  of  Au- 
gustus, and  Pompey's  theatre,  were  his  only 
public  structures.  When  both  were  finished, 

D  D  2 


404  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK    he  (lid  not  so  miicli   as   think  of  dedicating" 

VI.  ,  '^ 

them  ;  perhaps  to  shew  his  contempt  oflame  ; 
perhaps  ])e(:aiise  old  age  had  smik  his  vigour. 
To  estimate  the  damage  sustaiiied  by  each  in- 
dividual, his  four  sons-in-law  were  appointed, 
namely, Cneius  Domitius,  Cassius  Longinus, 
]\Iarcus  Vinicius,  and  llubeilius  Blandus.  At 
the  desire  of  tlie  consuls,  Publius  Petronius 
was  added  to  the  commission.  Public  ho- 
nours were  decreed  to  the  emperor  witli  ail 
the  variety  that  adulation  could  suggest. 
A'Yiiich  were  acceptable,  and  vrhicli  rejected, 
is  micertain;  since  he  was  then  near  liis  end, 
and  perhaps  never  declared  his  mind. 


Ol. 


A.u.c.  In  a  short  time  after,  Cneius  Acerronius 
a\x  and  Cains  Pontius  entered  on  the  consulship, 
and  it  was  tlieir  lot  to  ckjse  the  reign  of  Ti- 
berius. iMacro  was,  at  this  time,  in  tlie  zenitli 
of  his  power.  He  had  been  assiduous  in  pay- 
inii  his  court  to  Calii>;ula  ;  and  now,  when  he 
saw  tiie  emperor  declining  fast,  his  zeal  for 
the  young  prince  became  evcjy  day  more 
conspicuous.  In  a  short  time  after  the  death 
of  Claudia  fhj,  who  had  been  martkd  to 
Caiii>ula,  he  made  his  ov.n  wife,  Ennia,  throw 
out  the  lure  for  his  afiections,  tdl  she  obtained 


OF    TACITUS. 


404 


a  promise  of  marriage.  In  tliis  she  fDund  no  ^^^'^ 
(lifliciilty.  Caligula  v.'ished  for  notiiing  so 
much  as  an  opportunity  to  seize  the  sovereign 
power  :  and,  to  second  his  ambition,  tliere 
vas  no  project  which  lie  was  not  ready  to  em- 
brace. The  ferocity  of  his  nature  left  liim 
httle  time  for  reflection,  and  the  violence  of 
h.is  passions  clouded  Iiis  vmderstandin^  :  he 
had  studied  under  his  i^'randfather,  and  in  that 
sciiool  acquired  the  arts  of  dissimulation. 


XLVI.  The  character  of  Cali^'ula  didnot 
escape  the  penetrating  eye  of  Tiberius.  lleiK'e 
his  irresolution  on  the  important  point  of  nam- 
ing a  successor  (a).  Ilis  grandsons  naturally 
were  present  to  his  mind.  The  heir  of  his 
son  Drusus  was  the  nearest  in  blood,  and  na- 
tural affection  spoke  in  his  favour  :  but  the 
urince  was  still  of  tender  vears.  Caligula  had 
attained  {\\{^  prime  of  manhood  ;  but  he  was 
the  son  of  Germanicus,  and,  for  that  reason,  a 
favourite  of  the  people  ;  both  strong  motives 
to  excite  the  aversion  of  Tiberius.  Claudius 
was  not  entirely  overlooked.  His  time  of  life 
rendered  him  fit  for  that  exalted  station,  and 
he  had  shewn  a  taste  for  tlie  hbcral  arts  ;  but 
he  wanted  vigour  of  mind  :  nature  had  given 


406  THE    ANNALS 

BOOK  him  talents,  but  withheld  the  power  of  using 
them  with  any  solid  advantage.  In  this  per- 
plexity Tiberius  weighed  every  circumstance, 
but  still  could  form  no  resolution.  To  name 
a  person  who  was  not  of  the  imperial  family, 
were  to  degrade  the  memory  of  Augustus,  and 
leave  the  liouse  of  Caesar  exposed  to  the  con- 
tempt of  posterity.  This,  in  all  events,  he  was 
determined  to  avoid,  not  with  a  view  to  pre- 
sent fame,  for  that  had  long  since  ceased  to  be 
his  passion,  and  yet  he  wished  to  preserve  the 
glory  of  an  illustrious  line,  and  transmit  it  un- 
impaired to  future  ages. 

At  length,  fatigued  with  thinking,  and 
growing  every  day  weaker,  he  left  to  chance 
what  he  had  not  vigour  to  decide.  He  had, 
notwithstanding,  some  foreknowledge  of  wliat 
was  to  happen  after  him.  From  certain  ex- 
pressions that  fell  from  him  this  may  be  col- 
lected. His  reproach  to  Macro,  "  that  he 
"  turned  from  the  setting  to  the  rising  sun," 
was  neither  dark  nor  equivocal.  He  said  to 
Caligula,  who,  on  some  occasion,  treated  the 
character  of  Sy  11a  with  contempt  and  ridicule, 
*'  You  will  have  the  vices  of  that  great  man, 
■  •  without  one  of  his  virtues."  In  a  sliort  tmie 


OF  TACITUS.  407 

after,  while  with  tears  of  affeetion  he  elasped  book 
ill  his  arms  the  youngest  (bj  of  liis  grandsons, 
he  observed  the  stern  countenanee  of  Caliuula, 
and  calndy  told  him,  "  You  will  kill  this  boy, 
"  and  fall  yourself  by  some  other  hand.''  Ti- 
berius was  now  deelining  fast,  and  yet,  in  that 
decay  of  nature,  he  abated  nothing  from  his 
usual  gratiiieations.  Dissembling  to  the  last, 
he  endured  every  encroachment  on  his  con- 
stitution with  calm  composure.  Patience,  he 
thought,  would  pass  for  vigour.  To  ridicule 
the  practice  of  physic  fcj,  and  make  a  jest  of 
all  who,  after  thirty,  did  not  understand  their 
own  constitutions,  had  been  loui^  the  bent  of 
his  humour. 

XLVII.  At  Home,  in  the  mean  time,  pro- 
secutions were  set  on  foot  to  terminate  in  blood 
after  the  death  of  Tiberius.  Acutia,  formerly 
the  wife  of  PubliusVitellius  (a),  was  charged 
on  the  law  of  violated  majesty  by  La^lius 
Balbus.  She  was  condemned  ;  but  the  de- 
cree, by  which  the  senate  adjudged  a  recom- 
pence  to  the  prosecutor,  was  suspended  by  the 
interposition  of  Junius  Otho,  the  tribune  of 
the  people.  From  that  moment  Vitellius  and 
Otho  became  open   enemies.     Fierce   coa^ 


408  THE     ANNALS 

BOOK    tcntions  followed,  and,   at  last,  ended  ia  the 

VI. 

v-rf^^w  banishment  of  Otho.     Albucilla,  a  woman 

A.  U   C 

790.  '   famous  for  the  variety  of  her  intri<i;ues,  and  her 
A.  D. 
37.      marriage    with    vSatrius    Secundus   (bj    (the 

man    who    informed   against    Sejanus),    was 

charged  with  a  consph^acy  against  the  prince. 

Cneius  Domitins,  Vibius  Marsus,  and  Lucius 

Arruntius,  were  ail  three  involved  in  the  same 

prosecution,  being,  as  was  alleged,  connected 

in  a  course  of  adultery  with  Albucilla,  and,  by 

consequence,   accomplices  in  all  her  crimes. 

The  illustrious  birth  of  D(jmitius  has  been 

already   mentioned.     Marsus   derived  great 

splendour  from  his  ancestors,  and  was,  besides, 

in  an  eminent  degree  adorned  with  literature. 

In  the  state  of  the  proceedings  laid  before  the 

senate,  it  appeared  thatiMacro  presided  at  the 

examination  of  the  witnesses,  and   saw  the 

slaves  put  to  the  question  ;    but  no  letter  on 

the  subject  arrived  from  Tiberius.    Hence  a 

strong  suspicion,  that  Macro  taking  advantage 

of  the  feeble  state  of  his  master,  seized  the  op-- 

portunity  to  wreak  his  malice  on  Arruntius, 

Avhom  he  was  known  to  prosecute  with  iav^^ 

tcrate  hatred. 

XLVIII.  Do:\iiTiLS,  relying  on  his  de^ 


OF    TACITUS.  409 


VI. 

A.  U.  C. 


fence,  employed  himself  in  the  necessary  pre-    book 
paration.     Marsus  gave  out  that  he  was  re- 
solved to  end  his  days  by  famine.  Thearliiice  ^7»o 

AD 

saved  both  their  liv^es.  I'he  hiends  of  Ar-  37. * 
runtins  tried  ail  their  influence  and  their  best 
advice.  They  entreated  him  to  protract  the 
time  by  studied  delays.  Arruntius  answered 
with  lirniiiess  :  "  The  same  part  cannot,  with 
"  propriety,  be  acted  b}' all  ciiaracters.  What 
**  is  honourable  in  one,  may  be  unworthy  in 
*'  another.  As  to  myself,  I  have  lived  \ox\^ 
"  enough,  nay,  too  lo]ig,  and  to  my  own  dis- 
"  grace.  For  tliat,  arid  that  only,  I  now  re- 
"  proach  myself.  I  have  lingered  iii  life, 
*'  amidst  surrounding^  dangers ;  1  havedraoa'cd 
*'  aweary  old  age,  exposed  to  the  proud  man's 
"  insult,  and  the  malice  of  pernicious  mini?- 
"  ters  ;  luited  at  fu'st  by  Sejanus,  and  now  by 
*'  ^Jacro ;  in  every  stage  of  life  obnoxious  to 
**  lawless  power.  My  enemies  had  no  crime 
*'  to  lay  to  my  charge,  unless  it  be  a  crime  to 
'•  detest  evil  men,  and  evil  measures.  Life  is 
*'  no  longer  worth  n.iy  caie  :  it  may,  indeed, 
"  be  prolonged  beyond  t]]e  term  that  seems  to 
"  remain  for  Tiberius  :  but  from  a  youthful 
"  t3'rant,  ready  to  seize  the  commonwealth  as 
''  his  prey,  what  shield  can  gnr*rd  me  ?      In 


410  THE    ANNALS 


VI. 


BOOK  "'  despotic  power  there  is  a  cliarm  that  can 
'*  poison  the  best  uDderstaiiding.  Of  this  truth 
*'  Tiberius  is  an  example.  And  is  it  to  be  ex- 
*'  pected  that  Cahguhi,  scarce  yet  arrived  to 
**  the  state  of  manhood,  a  novice  in  business, 
**  with  a  mind  trained  up  in  the  most  per- 
"  nicious  maxims,  will,  under  such  a  guide  as 
*'  Macro,  pursue  better  measures  ?  Macro  will 
"  direct  his  councils  ;  that  very  IVfacro,  who, 
*'  for  his  pre-eminence  in  guilt,  was  selected  to 
^'^  work  the  downfall  of  Sejanus.  Since  that 
*'  time,  what  has  been  his  character?  He  has 
*'  been  the  scourge,  the  oppressor  of  the  com- 
*'  monwealth.  A  period  of  calamity,  more 
*'  dreadful  than  what  we  have  seen,  is  yet  to 
'*  come :  from  the  memory  of  the  past,  and  the 
*'  pangs  of  future  misery,  I  clioose  to  make  my 
''  escape."  Having,  in  this  prophetic  strain, 
delivered  his  sentiments,  he  opened  his  veins, 
and  bled  to  death.  That  he  acted  with  wis- 
dom, as  well  as  courage,  the  times  that  fol- 
low will  give  ample  proof. 

Albucillamade  an  attempt  on  her  own  life  ; 
but  the  wound  not  proving  mortal,  she  was, 
by  order  of  tlie  senate,  luu'ried  away  to  prison. 
The  senate  passed  a  decree  against  such  as 


OF    TACITUS  411 

were  connected  with  her  in  adulterous  prac-  book 
tices.  Bv^  that  sentence,  GraiidiusSacerdos, 
of  pn"etorian  rank,  was  banished  to  an  island, 
and  Pontius  Fregellanus  was  expelled  the  se- 
nate. The  like  judgment  was  pronounced 
against  La^lius  Balbus,  the  fathers  concurrinc^ 
with  pleasure  in  the  condemnation  of  a  man, 
whose  pernicious  talents  and  overbearing  elo- 
quence Avere  ever  ready  to  work  the  ruin  of 
truth  and  virtue. 

XLIX.  About  the  same  time,  Sextiis 
Papinius  (a),  a  man  descended  from  a  family 
of  consular  rank,  chose  a  mode  of  death  both 
ijhockin^  and  ignominious.  He  threw  him- 
self  headlong  from  a  precipice,  and  expired  on 
the  spot.  The  cause  of  this  dreadful  catas- 
trophe was  imputed  to  his  mother.  Having 
conceived  an  unnatural  passion  for  her  son, 
this  woman,  though  often  repulsed,  still  per- 
sisted to  solicit  his  passions,  and,  at  length,  by 
alluring  arts  and  the  baits  of  luxury,  reduced 
the  young  man  to  a  situation,  in  whicli  an  act 
of  despair  was  his  only  remedy.  Being  cited 
to  appear  before  the  sK^nate,  she  threw  herself 
at  the  feet  of  the  fathers,  and  tried  by  every 
art  to  awaken  conn)as.vir>n.  Tlie  anguish  of  a 


412  THE    ANNALS 


VI 

A.  U.  C 

790. 
A.  D. 


BOOK  parent,  she  said,  pierced  her  to  tlie  quick,  and 
the  weakness  of  her  sex  was  unequal  to  such 
'9^-  a  load  of  misery.  She  omitted  nothin<>;  that 
37-  '  could  touch  the  heart,  and  mitigate  resent- 
ment ;  but  the  fathers  vrere  inexorable.  She 
was  banished  from  Rome  for  ten  years,  that, 
in  the  mean  time,  her  second  son  mig'lit  pass 
the  season  of  life,  in  which  the  young  and  ten- 
der mind  is  liable  to  seduction. 

L.  Tiberius  now  drcAv  near  Ins  end  :  his 
strength  declined,  his  spirits  sunk,  and  every 
thing  failed,  except  his  dissimulation.  The 
same  austerity  still  remained,  the  same  energy 
and  rio;our  of  mind.  lie  talked  in  a  decisive 
tone  ;  he  looked  with  eagerness  ;  and  even,  at 
times,  affected  an  air  of  gaiety.  Dissembling 
to  the  last,  he  hoped  by  false  appearances  to 
hide  the  decay  of  nature.  Weary,  restless, 
and  impatient,  he  could  not  stay  long  in  one 
place.  After  various  changes,  he  stopt  at  a 
villa,  formerly  the  propert}-  fa  J  of  Lucullus, 
near  the  promontory  of  JMisenum.  It  vras  here 
first  known  that  his  dissolution  was  approach- 
ing fast.  The  discovery  was  made  iii  the 
following  maimer.  A  physician,  of  the  name 
of  Charicles,  highly  eminent  in  his  profession, 


OF    TACITUS.  4.15 

attended  the  train  of  Tiberius,  not  employed  book 
to  prescribe,  but  occasionally  assisting  with 
friendly  advice.  Pretending  to  have  avoca- 
tions that  required  his  attendance  elsewhere, 
he  approached  the  emperor  to  take  his  leave, 
and  respectfully  laying  hold  of  liis  hand,  con- 
trived, in  the  act  of  saluting  it,  to  feel  iiis 
pulse.  The  artifice  did  not  escape  the  notice 
of  TU)erius.  It  probably  gave  him  oftence, 
l)ut,  for  that  reason,  he  smothered  his  resent- 
ment. With  an  air  of  cheerfulness,  he  ordered 
the  banquet  to  be  served,  and,  seemingly  with 
intent  to  honour  his  departing  friend,  con- 
tinued at  table  beyond  his  usual  time.  Cha- 
ricles  was  not  to  be  deceived.  lie  saw  a  ra- 
pid decline,  and  assured  Alacro  that  two  days, 
at  most,  would  close  the  scene.  For  thatevent 
measures  were  immediately  taken  :  councils 
were  held  in  private,  and  dispatches  were  sent 
to  the  army,  and  the  several  commanders  at 
their  respective  stations.  On  the  seventeenth 
before  the  calends  of  April,  Tiberius  had  a 
fainting  iit  :  he  lay  for  some  time  in  a  state 
of  languor,  speechless,  Vvithout  motion,  and 
was  thonght  to  be  dead.  A  band  of  cour- 
tiers surrounded  Caligula,  eager  to  pay  their 
court,  and  all   congratulating   the   prince  on 


414  THE    ANNALS 


BOOK  his  accession  to  the  imperial  dignity.  Ca- 
^-^/^w^  Hgula  was  actually  going  forth  to  be  pro-* 
79t>-  claimed  emperor,  when  word  was  brought, 
37.  that  Tiberius  was  come  to  himself,  and  called 
for  a  cordial  to  revive  his  fainting  spirits.  The 
wholeparty  was  struck  with  terror:  the  crowd 
dispersed  ;  some  with  dejected  looks,  others 
with  a  cheerful  mien,  as  if  unconscious  of  what 
had  happened.  Caligula  stood  at  gaze,  asto- 
nished, and  almost  out  of  his  senses.  He  had, 
but  a  moment  before,  one  foot  on  the  throne, 
and  now  was  thrown  from  the  summit  of  his 
ambition.  He  remained  fixed  in  despair,  as 
if  awaiting  the  stroke  of  death.  ^lacro  alone 
was  undismayed.  With  firmness  and  pre- 
sence of  mind,  he  cleared  the  emperor*s  room, 
and  2:ave  orders  that  the  remains  of  life  should 
be  smothered  under  a  load  of  clothes.  Such 
was  the  end  of  Tiberius,  in  the  seventy-eighth 
year  of  his  age. 

LI.  He  was  the  son  of  Tiberius  Nero;  by 
the  paternal  and  maternal  line  of  the  house  of 
Claudius,  though  his  mother  passed  by  adop- 
tion into  the  Livian,  and  afterwards  into  the 
Julian  family.  The  beginning  of  his  days 
was  clouded  with  misfortunes,  and  exposed  to 
1 


OF    TACITUS.  415 

various   perils.     In  his  infancy,  he  was  torn    eook 
away  from  Rome,  and  forced  to  wander  with  -^ — ' 

.  ,  A.  TT.  C. 

Jiis  father,  then  on  the  list  of  the  proscribed.      '•"'• 

'  i  A.  D. 

When  a  marriage  took  place  between  Livia  "'• 
and  Auo;ustus,  he  was  introduced  into  tlie  im- 
perial  house,  but  had  to  contend  with  power- 
ful rivals,  as  long  as  Marcellus,  Agrippa,  and 
the  two  Caesars,  Caius  and  Lucius,  flourished 
at  the  court  of  Augustus.  In  the  eves  of  the 
people,  his  brother  Drusus  overshadowed  hini. 
By  his  marriage  with  Julia,  his  situation  was 
rendered  still  more  embarrassini;.  ^Vliether 
he  connived  at  her  vices,  or  abandoned  lier  in 
resentment,  the  dilemma  was,  either  way,  full 
of  difficultv.  Beino-  recalled  from  the  isle  of 
Rhodes,  he  found  Augustus  deprived  of  heirs, 
and  from  that  time  continued  for  twelve  years, 
without  a  rival,  the  hope  and  pillar  of  the  im- 
perial family,  lie  succeeded  to  the  empire, 
and  governed  Rome  near  three-and-twenty 
years.  His  manners,  like  his  fortune,  liad  their 
revolutions,  and  their  distinctive  periods  ; 
amiable  f^/J,  while  a  private  man  ;  and,  in 
the  highest  emuloyments  urider  Augustus, 
esteemed  and  honoured.  During  the  lives  of 
Drusus  and  Germanicus,  he  played  an  arti- 
ficial character,  concealino'  his  vices,  and  as- 


416  THE   ANNALS  OF  TACITUS. 

BOOK    sumiiii^  the  exteriors  of  virtue.      After  their 

VI.  ^ 

decease,  and  while  his  mother  hved,  good  and 
evil  were  equally  blended  in  his  conduct.  De- 
tested for  his  cruelty,  he  had  the  art,  while  he 
loved  or  feared  Sejanus,  to  throw  a  veil  over 
his  most  depraved  and  vicious  appetites.  Ail 
restraint  being  at  length  removed,  he  broke 
out  without  fear  or  shame,  and,  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  hurried  away  by  his  own 
unbridled  passions,  made  his  reign  one  scene 
of  lust,  and  cruelty,  and  h<jrror. 


END  OF  THE  SIXTH   BOOK. 


NOTES 


o>r 


THE  THIRD,  FOURTH,  FIFTH,  AND 
SIXTH  BOOKS 


OF 


THE  ANNALS. 


VOL.  II.  E  £ 


NOTES 


ON 

THE    THIRD    BOOK 


OF 


THE  AXNALS. 


Section  I, 

(V/)  r"¥^TIE  two  cliildren  of  Gennanlcns  probably  Avcve, 
A    Caligula,  who,  according"  to  Suetonius,  'u-com- 
panied  his  father  itito  the  East;  anil  Julia,  who  was 
born  in  the  isle  of  Lesbos,     See  book  ii,  s,  54. 

Section  II. 

{n)  Tliese  were  Nero  and  Drnsus,  Agrippina  and 
Drusilla.  But  it  is  not  probable  that  the  two  daughters 
Ment  so  far  to  meet  their  father's  funeral. 

Section  Til. 

(a)  For  the  character  of  Antonia,  sec  Supplement 
to  book  V.  s.  27  ;  and  see  the  Genealogical  Table, 
No.  42. 

Section  VI. 

(n)  The  Romans  called  themselves  the  masters  of 
the  world,  and  wherever  their  legions  could  penetrate, 
the  nations  owned  their  superiority.     The  ambasbadors 

E  E  2 


420  NOTES  ON  THE 

sent  to  Rome  by  Pyrrliiis  bein^  asked,  at  their  return^ 
■what  they  thought  of  the  Romans  ?  The  city,  tlvey 
paid,  appeared  to  be  a  temple,  and  the  senate  a  conven- 
tion of  kint^s.  Floras,  lib.  i.  cap.  IS.  Cicero,  in  the 
Oration  pro  domo  suh,  calls  the  Roman  people  the 
masters  of  kings,  the  conquerors  and  commanders  of  all 
other  nations,  ///f ,  I'fe  populus  est  domimis  regzim,  vic- 
tor a! que  imperator  omnium  o^entiwoi. 

(b)  Julia  was  the  daughter  of  Julius  Caesar  by  his 
wife  Cornelia.     See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  6. 

(()  The  Megalesian  games  were  so  called  from 
^fyaxn&ia,  the  great  goddess,  or  magna  mater.  They 
were  cclebraJed  in  the  month  of  April,  and  lasted  seven 
days.  Germanicus  died  in  the  preceding  month  of 
November.  The  grief  of  the  people  at  Rome  was  so 
violent,  that  even  the  Saturnalian  games,  which  were 
towards  the  end  of  December,  could  not  put  a  stop  to 
the  general  sorrow.  See  Suet,  in  Calig.  s.  6.  Th« 
mourning,  we  find  from  Tacitus,  continued  to  the  montli 
of  April  following. 

Sectioti  IX, 
(a)  Now  the  Gulf  of  Yenice, 

Section  X, 

(a)  For  an  account  of  these  suspicions,  see  Suetonius 
in  Tib.  s.  32. 

Section  XIV. 

raj  The  Gemcnim  ScalcE  were  a  flight  of  steps  at  the 
bottom  of  the  Capiti.line  Hill,  where  the  bodies  of  male- 
factors were  exposed,  and  then  draggrd  by  a  hook  fixed 
in  the  throat,  and  thrown  into  the  Tiber., 


tlllRD  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        421 

Section  XVI. 
(a)    Piso    liail    been  joint    consul    with   Auo:u!^tus, 
A.  U.  C.  731,  and  afterwards  with  Tiberius,  A  U.  C.  747. 

Section  xvn. 

{a)  Tiberius  was  willini^  to  make  the  apoloi^y  of  a 
young-  man.  He  could  not  mean,  in  the  latitude  here 
laid  down,  that  the  son  is  bound  in  all  cases  to  obey  the 
father's  orders.  Quintiliah  has  well  observed,  that  pa- 
rents are  not  to  be  obeyed  in  every  thing.  To  receive 
benefits,  he  adds,  would  be  highly  dangerous,  if  by 
obligations  men  were  bound  to  every  kind  of  service. 
They  would  in  tliat  case  be  in  the  worst  state  of  thral- 
dom. Non  omnia  prcbstanda  parcnttbus.  Alioquin  nihil 
est  pcrniciosius  acceptis  hcneficiis,  si  in  omnem  nos  obli' 
gant  serrit litem.  See  Grotius  Dc  Jure  Belli  ac  Pacis^ 
lib.  ii.  cap.  26* 

(b)  In  the  time  of  the  republic,  the  consul,  who  pre- 
sided in  the  senate,  put  the  question  to  the  fathers  in 
every  debate ;  but  he  neither  called  upon  his  colleague, 
nor  the  prafors,  nor  any  of  the  acting  magistrates.  He 
addressed  himself  to  the  prince  of  the  senate,  the  con- 
suls elect,  and  after  them  to  the  members  of  consular 
rank,  and  in  regular  succession  to  the  rest  of  the  senate^ 
The  reason  of  this  arrangement  seems  to  have  been  an 
idea  that  the  magistraes,  if  they  took  the  lead,  woidd 
have  too  much  influence  on  I  lie  rest  of  the  asseinbly. 
After  the  change  of  government,  the  same  practice  con- 
tinued, with  this  difference  ;  if  the  emperor  attended  the 
debates  in  the  senate,  he,  of  course,  Avas  the  su[)reme  ma- 
gistrate, and  in  that  case  it  was  his  to  collect  tlie  voices. 
He  began  with  the  consuls  actuallj'^  in  office,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  other  magistrates  according  to  their  ranlw 


422  NOTES  OX  THE 

Sec  a  Disserlaiion,  entHlcd,  "  The  Roman  Emperor  ire 
*'  (ho  Senate;"  Memoirs  of  the  Academy  of  Belles 
Leitres,  vol.  xxvii.  4to.  edit. 

Scctio7i  XVIII. 

(a)  Julius  Antonius  was  son  to  Antony  the  triumvir. 
He  was  found  guilty  of  adultery  with  Julia  the  daughter 
of  Augustus,  and  punished  with  death.  Annals,  book 
iv.  s.  14. 

(b)  It  is  unnecessary  to  repeat,  that  Claudius  was 
brother  to  Gcrmanicus.  He  was  at  this  time  ncijlected 
and  despised.  See  Suet,  in  Claud,  s.  2  ;  and  see  Sup- 
plement to  book  V.  s.  24. 

Seclio?i  XIX. 

(a)  Slie  was  the  daughter  of  Agrippa,  married  to 
Tiberius,  and  divorced  from  him.  See  Genealogical 
Table,  No.  69. 

Sccfion  XX. 
(a)  See  the  Geograijhical  Table. 

Seciion  XXI. 

(a)  Appius  Claudius,  consul  A.  U.  C.  259,  com- 
manded in  the  war  against  the  Volsci.  The  soldiers,  re- 
gardless of  discipline  and  subordination,  paid  no  respect 
to  tlicir  officers,  and,  in  consequence  of  their  contu- 
macy, suffered  a  defeat.  As  soon  as  they  returned  to 
their  camp,  Claudius  pu!iished  the  ring-leaders  with 
death,  and  decimated  the  rest  of  his  army.  Ccclera 
midtitrdn^  sorte  dccimus  quisque^  ad  suppUc'mm  Iccti. 
Livy,  lib.  «.^s.!59.    See  als    Polybius,  book  vi.  cap.  2. 

(^')  A  town 'in  Nuraidia.  Sec  the  Geogra^shical 
Table. 


THIRD  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.       423 

Section  XXII. 

(a)  Lcpida's  ancestors  were  allied  to  the  ^^milian 
fnmily.  Faust  us  Sylla,  son  oFtlie  dictator,  was  her  fa- 
ther ;  and  Ponipeia,  daughter  of  Pompey  the  Great,  was 
her  motiier.  Suetonius  says,  Condemnatam  et  generO' 
sissimam  foemwam^  Lepidnni,  in  graliam  Quirini^  con' 
sularis  prccdixilis  et  orbi,  qui  dimissam  earn  niatrimonio, 
post  vigesiinum  anmtm,  xencni  oUm  in  se  coniparad  ar- 
guehal.     Life  of  Tiberius,  s.  49. 

(h)  There  were  at  Rome  four  different  ways  of  dz' 
taininj^  the  accused  in  custody  : .  viz.  the  commoii  jail ; 
commitment  to  a  military  guard  ;  commitment  to  tlie: 
care  of  the  consuls  or  other  magistrates  in  their  o  .a 
houses,  which  Sallust,  in  L'atilinaj  sect,  xlvii.  calls  li^ 
heras  custodias  ;  and  lastly,  sureties  for  the  person's  ap- 
pearance, which  is  what  Ave  call  heing  out  upon  hail. 

Section  XXII I. 

(a)  The  Theatre  of  Pompey,  dedicated  A.  U.  C.  699. 
For  a  further  account  of  that  magnificent  structure,  ca- 
pable, according  to  Pliny,  lib.  xxxv.  s.  15,  of  holding* 
forty  thousand  persons,  see  Annals,  book  xiv.  s.  20, 

Section  XXIV". 

(a)  Julia  married  to  Agrippa,  and  their  daughter 
Julia  married  to  Lucius  iEmilius  Paulus.  See  the  Ge- 
nealogicd  Table,  No.  46  and  52. 

(h)  Julius  Antonius,  for  his  adulterous  connexion 
with  Julia  the  (laughter  of  Augustus,  was  put  to  death  ; 
and  Silanus,  for  the  like  offence  widi  Julia  the  grand- 
daughter, was  condemned  to  banishment.  For  Julius 
Antonius,  see  Ajinals;  book  iv.  s,  44- 


424  NOTES  ON  THE 

Section  XXV. 

{a)  The  laAV  Papia  Poppcra  deiivecl  its  name  from 
<lic  two  consuls  who  Averc  the  authors  of  it ;  namely, 
Marcus  PapiT'S  Mutiliis,  and  Quintus  Poi'p.eus, 
A.  U.  C.  762;  the  ninth  of  the  Ciiristian  eera.  Dio 
observes,  that  the  two  consuls  had  neither  wife  nor 
children;  and  for  that  reason,  a  law  which  imposed 
penalties  on  celibacy,  and  rewarded  tlie  married  state, 
was  the  more  acceptable,  because  disinterested. 

(h)  In  the  time  of  the  republic,  laws  were  finally 
passed  by  the  people,  who  were  asked,  Is  it  your  will 
and  order  that  this  shall  be  a  law?  Tlie  question  was 
called  IloGATio.  Cicero,  in  his  Oration  pro  domo  siui^ 
gives  the  form  of  w  ords :  Velitis,  jubeutis,  Quirites,  ut 
JI.  Tiii'io  aqua  ct  igfjts  intcrdiccmtKr  ?  This  being  the 
maimer  of  enacting  laws,  Rogatio  and  Lex  became 
synonimous  terms.  Florus  uses  Rogatio  in  that  sense, 
lib.  iii.  s.  17.  Julius  Casar  passed  several  laws  to  en- 
courage population,  but  without  effect. 

(c)  The  luxury  of  the  times  occasioned  so  much  ex- 
travagance, that  men  did  not  choose  the  additional  ex- 
pence  of  rearing  children.  See  Manners  of  the  Ger- 
mans, s.  xviii.  note  (f)* 

Section  XXVI. 

{(i)  It  may  be  made  a  question,  whellier  a  period  of 
pure  simplicity  and  innocence  ever  existed  ?  Seneca  ex- 
patiates in  praise  of  those  times,  epist.  xc.  and  the  poets 
have  been  lavish  in  their  dcscriptio.!  of  the  golden  age ; 
but  the  history  of  mankind  luis  no  proofs  of  the  fact. 
An  ingenious  writer  says,  Who  were  (liosc  men  that 
lived  in  -so  much  innocence  F  The  first  man  v. ho  was 


THIRD   BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.        425 

born  in  the  world,  killed  the  second.     When  did  the 
times  of  simplicity  begin  ? 

Section  XXVII. 

(a)  The  tuo  Grncclii  were  leaders  of  the  popular 
party,  in  opposition  to  the  senate  and  the  patrician 
order.  Tiberius  Gracchus  was  the  great  factious  dema- 
gogue, A.  U.  C.  G21 ;  his  brother  {\aius  adopted  the 
same  measures  A.  U.  C.  633.  See  an  account  of  tliem, 
Florus,  lib.  iii.  cap.  I4r  and  15.  Sec  also  the  Dialos-ue 
concerning  Eloquence,  s.  xviii.  note  (d).  Apuleius  Sa- 
turninus  endeavoured  to  enforce  ihe  laws  of  the  Gracchi, 
and  was  killed  in  the  contention,  A.  IJ.  C.  C54.  See 
Florus,  lib.  iii.  cap.  16. 

(b)  M.  Livius  Drusus  was  a  grand  corruptor  in  the 
name  of  the  senate.  He  carried  the  arts  of  bribery  be- 
yond all  former  example.  He  died  A.  U.  C.  663. 
Florus,  lib.  iii.  cap.  17. 

(O  Florus  (lib.  iii.  cap.  18.)  calls  this  the  Social 
War  ;  but  as  it  involved  all  Italy,  it  is  called  by  Tacitus 
the  Italic  JVar.  It  was  in  the  year  of  Rome  663.  The 
civil  war,  which  follov^ed,  was  between  Marius  and 
Sylla,  A.  U.  C.  666.     Florus,  lib.  iii.  cap.  21. 

(d)  Sylla  usurped  the  authority  of  dictator  A.  U.  C. 
672,  and  exercised  those  extraordinary  powers  till  the 
year  675.  Florus,  lib.  iii.  cap.  21  and  23.  He  then 
abdicated  the  dictatorship,  and  died  A.  U.  C.  67^. 

Ce)  Lepidus  was  for  abrogating  ail  the  laws  of  Sylla, 
See  FloriB,  lib.  iii.  s.  23. 

(f)  Sylla  saw  that  the  tribunes  made  an  ill  use  of 
their  power,  nnd  therefore  reduced  those  magistrates 
within  due  bounds.  Pompey,  in  his  consulship, 
A^  U,  C.  684,   re-established   the  tribuaitiaii  power. 


426  NOTES  ON  th:^ 

Speaking  of  lliis  act,  Cicero  says  he  was  in  ttie  liabit  of' 
mentioning  Pompey,  upon  all  occasions,  with  the  high- 
est commendation;  but  with  regard  to  the  tribeaiitian 
power,  he  chose  to  be  silent.  He  was  not  willing  to 
condemn  that  measure,  and  to  approve  was  not  in  his 
power.  Pompeiuni  nostrin)i  cctleris  rebus  omnib^is  sem- 
•per  ampUssimis  summisque  efferu  laiidibiis,  De  trihmulid 
postestatetaceo;  nee  eriim  reprehendcre  libet,  nee  laiidare 
possum.  Cicero  De  I>egibus,  lib.  iii.  cap.  9.  Tlie 
translation  of  what  follows,  it  must  be  acknowledged,  is 
not  exact.  The  words  are,  The  publie  good  Zlc/s  7io 
longer  thought  of:  ?}czo  eharac'crs  appeared,  and  new 
statutes  were  enacted.  The  original  says,  Jamque  nan 
niodo  in  commune,  sedin  singulos  homines  lalce  qucestiones. 
The  true  meaning  seems  to  be,  Laws  were  made  not  for 
the  public  onlj^,  but  also  widi  a  view  to  individuals. 
The  last  was  against  the  spirit  and  positive  institutions 
of  the  Roman  republic.  Laws  respecting  particular 
persons  were  called  Prmlegium,  from  priva  lex,  a  pri- 
vate law,  which  was  forbidden,  says  Cicero,  De  Legibns, 
lib.  iii.  cap.  4,  by  the  Twelve  Tables  ;  Prixilegia  ne 
irroganto  ;  and  again,  in  the  Oration  pro  JJomo  sua, 
Vciant  leges  sacrafce,  refant  XII  Tabulce  leges  privntis 
homlnibns  irrogari;  id  est  enim  prhilegium.  Cicero  is 
more  explicit  and  diffuse  against  particular  laws  in  the 
case  of  individuals,  in  the  Oration  Pro  Sisxtio,  s.  SO. 
They  were  not  unlike  the  ex  post  facto  laws,  and  bills  of 
attainder,  which  have  been  heard  of  in  this  country,  it 
is  to  be  hoped,  to  revive  no  more. 

'    Section  XXVIir. 

(ri)  Pompey'^  third  consulsliip  was  A.  JJ.  C.  702; 
before  the  Christian  acra  52.     One  of  his  rules  was,  tl;at 


THIRD   BOOK   OF   THE   ANNAL*.        427 

no  maaistrate  should  be  governor  of  a  province,  before 
the  end  of  five  years  after  tlie  expiration  of  his  office ; 
and  then  he  took  upon  himself  the  government  of  Spaiu 
for  the  additional  term  of  five  years.     Dio,  lib.  xl. 

(b)  The  twenty  years  of  civil  distraction  are  to  be 
computed  from  the  dcatii  of  Pompcy,  A,  U.  C.  706. 
Augustus  vas  consul  for  the  sixth  lime,  A.  U.  C.  72G  ; 
before  the  Christian  ajra  28. 

(c)  Informers  were  encouragf^d,  by  the  law  of  Papin 
Poppcca,  to  hold  a  strict  watch  over  such  as  li.ed  in  a 
S-tatti  of  celibacy. 

Sectio/i  XXIX. 

■(a)  Dio  informs  us,  that  while  Augustus,  after  all  his 
victories,  was  still  absent  from  Rome,  the  senate,  by  a 
decree,  established  a  new  magistracy,  consisting  of 
twenty,  to  superintend  the  police  and  good  government 
of  the  city.  Their  duty  was  divided  into  different  de- 
partments :  tiiree  to  sit  in  judgment ;  three  to  direct  tlie 
coinage  ;  four  to  superintend  the  public  ways  ;  and  ten 
to  preside  in  such  causes  as  were  tried  by  the  centum  viri. 
The  office  was  continued  by  Augustus,  and  became  the 
previous  step  to  the  higher  magistracies.  The  time  for 
entering  on  the  qusstorship  was  at  the  age  of  four-and- 
twenty  ;  consequenily  Nero,  the  eldest  son  of  Germa- 
nicus,  might  begin  his  career  of  honours  v^hen  turned  of 
nineteen. 

(b)  Dnious,  the  son  of  Tiberius.  He  married  Xnia 
otherwise  Lkilla.,  the  daughter  of  Drusus,  who  was 
brother  to  Tiberius.  See  the  Genealogical  Table, 
No.  70  and  71. 

(c)  Claudius,  afterwards  emperor,  vtas  brother  lo 
Germanicus.     He  had  a  son  named  Drusus,  who  Axed 


428  NOTES  ON  THEi 

very  young.     The  intended  marriage  never  took  place. 
See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  102. 

Section  XXX. 

(a)  Salliistias  Crispus^  <he  minister  privy  to  the  death 
of  Agrippa  Posthumus,  has  been  already  mentioned, 
Annals,  book  i.  s.  6.  His  gardens,  and  other  articles 
of  luxury,  are  described  by  Pliny,  lib.  vii.  s.  16 ;  and 
lib.  xxxiv.  s.  2. 

Sect  10/2  XX XI. 

(a)  For  more  of  Mamercus  Scaurus,  a  man  famous 
for  his  talents  at  the  bar,  but  detested  for  his  vicious 
coarse  of  life,  see  Annals,  book  vi.  s.  29* 

Section  XXX 11. 

(a)  It  has  been  already  mentioned  that  Augustus^ 
having  reserved  some  provinces  for  his  own  manage- 
ment, resigned  the  rest  to  the  senate.  Asia  and  Airica 
were  in  the  number  assigned  to  the  fathers,  and  were 
always  considered  as  consular  governments.  Two,  who 
had  discharged  the  oflice  of  consul,  were  named,  and 
the  province  of  each  was  decided  by  lot.  That  rule, 
however,  was  waved  in  sudden  emergencies,  and  a  pro- 
consul was  sent  without  any  form  of  election  or  ballot. 

Section  XXXIII. 

(n)  Plancina,  the  wifeofPiso. 

(b)  The  tribunal  where  the  consuls  sat  in  judgraciif, 
was  called  Pra^lorium. 

(c)  Cains  Oppins,  tribune  of  the  people  A.  U.  C.  541, 
was  the  author  of  a  law,  by  which  the  women  were  laid 
under  several  restrictions  in  the  articles  of  dress  and 


THIRD   BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        42§ 

ptlier  expenccs.  Tint  law  was  repealed,  nofwithsfand- 
in<^  the  strenuous  efforts  of  Ca<o  the  censor,  A .  U.  C.  359. 
See  Livy,  lib.  xxxiv.  s.  38.  But  still  it  Avas  thought 
necessary  that  the  female  sex  sliould  be  held  within  due 
bounds,  and  other  sumptuary  laws  were  enacted. 

Section  XXXIV. 

(a)  For  Gorvinus  Mcssala,  who  flourished  in  the  time 
of  Augustus,  sec  the  Dialogue  concerning  Oratory,  s.  xii. 
note  (c). 

(b)  He  was  married  to  Livia,  the  sister  of  Gcrnianir 
cus.     See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  71. 

Secfioii  xxxvfir. 

(a)  Pliny  the  younger,  in  his  panegyric  on  the  em- 
peror Trajan,  says  that  neither  the  laws  enacted  in  the 
consulship  of  V^oconius,  nor  the  tlulian  law,  conduced 
so  much  to  enrich  the  exchequer  of  the  prince  and  the 
public  treasury,  as  the  charge  of  violated  majesty,  too 
often  the  only  charge  against  those  who  were  free  from 
every  crime.  Liocitpletabunt  et  fiscum  et  asrarium  non 
tarn  Voconiee  et  Jnlicn  leges^  quam  ma'jestalis  singulare 
et  vniciim  crimen  coriim  qui  crimiue  xacarent.  Pliny, 
in  Paneg-  s.  42. 

{b)  It  is  probable  that  Antistius  was  a  Roman  by 
biith,  who  had  etvled  in  M  icedonia,  and  there  became 
ii  man  of  the  first  cm -equence. 

Section  XXXfX. 

(a)  Some  of  the  commentator.:  w  11  have  the  person 
here  mentioned,  to  be  /e  leius  Faterc  ilus  the  historian  ; 
jbut  the  priynomen  Piublius  seems  to  denote  a  different 
fliaiic 


430  NOTES  ON   THE 

Section  XLI. 

(a)  Being  tboiig-ht  dead,  some  years  afterwards,  and 
laid  on  his  funeral  pile,  lie  waked  from  his  lelharii-y, 
but,  for  want  of  assistance,  was  consumed  in  thefiames. 
JPliny,  lib.  vii.  s.  52.    Valeriujs  Maximus,  lib.  i.  cap.  8, 

Section  XLIL 
(a)  See  the  Geographical  Table, 

Section  XLIII. 

(ff)  Visellins  Varro  commanded  on  the  Lower  Rhincj 
and  Caius  Silius  on  the  Upper. 

Section  XLV. 

(r;)  The  Gauls,  under  the  conduct  of  Ercnnus,  storm- 
ed the  city  of  Rome,  A.  U.  C.  S6 4  ;  before  the  Christian 
a?ra  390.  Livy,  lib.  v.  s.  35.  They  fought  no  less  than 
thirty  battles  with  J  ulius  Cffisar.  Brotier,  in  his  note  on 
this  passage,  is  at  great  pains  to  retrieve  the  fame  of  the 
ancient  Gaids,  who  have  been,  in  liis  opinion,  too  much 
neglected,  and  indeed  consigned  to  oblivion,  by  the 
irruption  of  the  Franks.  But  the  Gauls,  he  says,  wero 
a  great  and  powerful  nation,  while  Rome,  under  Tar- 
quinius  Priscus,  was  yet  Ln  its  infancy  ;  and  though  the 
name  of  Fhanks  has  been  adopted  by  his  countrymen, 
3'et  the  nature  of  the  first  inhabitants  has  not  been  ex» 
tingnibhed.  The  Gallic  mind,  the  Gallic  genius,  and 
the  Gallic  manners  have  been  transmitted  from  age  to 
age,  insomuch,  that  what  Julius  Cffisar  said  of  the  people 
almost  two  thousand  years  ago,  is  true  at  this  hour. 
So  far  Brotier.  Those  who  are  fond  of  researches  into 
remote  antiquity,  and,  as  Doctor  Goldsmith  somewliere 
expressed  it.  who  love  to  pursue  the  chase  when  the 
1 


THIRD   BOOK   OF  THE   ANXALS.        431 

dews  of  the  mornin<^  have  passed  away,  will  find  in 
Brotier's  Tacitus,  vol.  i,  page  367,  8vo.  edit,  an  elabo« 
rate  history  of  the  ancient  Gauls.  ]]ut  whether  in  the 
history  of  those  barbarous  times,  any  thing  can  be  found 
to. equal  tlie  cariiuge,  blood,  and  massacre,  which  have 
lately  disgraced  their  descendants,  and  excited  tho 
horror  and  indignation  of  all  l^urope,  may  be  made  a 
question. 

Section  XLVIII, 

(a)  The  same  Quirinius  who  has  been  mentioned  in 
this  book,  s.  xxii. 

Sectio?i  LTI. 

(a)  The  particular  instances  of  Itoman  luxury,  and 
the  wealth  and  profusion  of  individuals,  would  lead  to  a 
long  digression.  Apicins,  and  others  of  that  class  of 
epicures,  arc  well  known.  Lucan  has  given  a  general 
account  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  luxury  : 

Namque  ut  opes  nimias  mundo  fort  una  subacto 

Intulit,  et  rebus  mores  cessere  secundis, 

Prcedaquc  et  hostiles  luxuni  suasere  rapince, 

Non  auro  tectisve  modus  ;  mcnsasque  priorcs 

Aspernata  fames;  cultus  gestare  decoros 

Vix  nuribus,  rapuere  mares  ;  faxunda  virorum 

Paupertas  fugitur,  totoqueaccersilur  orbe 

Quo  gcjis  qiiffique  perit.     Longos  turn  jungere  fines 

Agrorum,  et  duro  quondam  sulcata  Camilll 

Vomere,  et  antiquos  Curiorum  passa  ligones 

Longa  sub  ignotis  extcndcre  rura  colonis. 

Phaksalia,  lib.  i. 


432  NOTES  ON  the; 

Sectio}7  Llir. 

(a)  Tiberius,  wlio  writes  this  letter  to  the  senate,  was 
so  well  known  to  be  fond  of  his  glass,  th.T:t,  instead  of 
Tiberius  Claudius  Nero,  he  was  called  Biberitjs  Cal- 
Dius  Mero.  But  though  he  was  addicted  to  wine,  he 
shewed  no  disposition  to  the  prevail ini^  luxury  of  the 
times,  till  his  excesses  broke  out  in  tlie  isle  of  Caprea. 
What  Tiberius  says  of  the  fashionable  stjlc  of  dress, 
common  to  both  sexes,  is  confirmed  in  tlic  passage  above 
(g^uoted  from  Lucan : 

: — • — CuKus  gestarc  docoros 

Vix  nuribus,  rapuere  marcs. — 

Horace  describes  a  Roman  lady  in  her  silk  dress  from 
the  isle  of  Coos,  so  thin,  theit  it  n;ight  be  said  t©  I^e 
transparent. 

■ —  Coi5  tibi  pffine  videre  cat, 

Ut  nudam. 

Pliny  the  elder  tells  us,  that  the  men  in  the  summer  sea-f 
son  did  not  blush  to  follow  their  example  ;  and  were  so 
little  inclined  to  wear  the  military  brcast^plate,  that 
their  very  clothes  were  a  burthen.  Non  pudujt  fias 
vestes  usurpare  etiam  xiros,  levitolem  propter  cBstivam. 
In  tantum  a  loricd  gerendd  discessere  mores,  ut  otieri  sit 
etiam  testis.  Pliny,  lib.  xi.  s.  23.  See  in  this  book, 
s.  xxxiii.  note  (aj. 

Section  LV. 

(a)  The  battle  of  Actium  was  A.  U.  C.  722.     Galba 
•was  murdered  A.  U.  C.  823. 

Section  IjVI. 
(a)  Lipsius  obiicrves  that  Drusus,  according  to  thiij 


THIRD  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.       433 

account,  was  six-and-thirty  years  of  age.  Tiberius  was 
born  A.  U.  C.  7I5J,  and  was  invested  with  the  tribunitian 
power  by  Augustus  A.  U.  C.  748. 

Secfion  LVIII. 

(a)  The  death  of  Cornelius  Merula  deserves  particular 
notice.  He  saw  Marius  and  Cinna  in  possession  of 
Rome,  and  the  most  illustrious  citizens  bleeding  in 
one  general  massacre.  He  abdicated  liis  office  of  con- 
sul, and,  opening  his  veins,  spriniiled  with  his  blood 
the  very  altar  where,  in  his  character  of  priest  of  Ju- 
piter, he  had  frequently  offered  up  his  prayers  for 
the  peace  and  happiness  of  his  country.  With  his  last 
breath  he  poured  forth  his  execration  of  Cinna,  and, 
having  invoked  the  vengeance  of  the  gods  on  that 
traitor's  head,  closed  a  life  of  honour  and  virtue.  J/e- 
rula  auten/,  qui  se  sub  advent um  Cinnce  consulalu  ahdi* 
caxieral^  incisis  venis  su  per  fuse  que  alt  arihus  san  putney 
quos  pro  salute  reipuhlicce  Flamen  Dialis  precatus  erat 
Deos,  eos  in  execrationem  Cinnce  partiumqiie  ejus  turn 
precatus.^  optimede  republicoi  meritum  spiritum  reddidit, 
Velleius  Paterculus,  lib.  ii.  s.  22.  This  was  A.  U.  C. 
C67.  From  that  time  no  priest  of  Jupiter  was  appointed 
till  the  year  of  Rome  743,  when  Augustus  revived  the 
office.  Dio,  lib.  liv.  The  interval  was  a  space  of  se- 
venty-six years. 

Section  LIX. 

(a)  The  emperor  was  not  only  commander  in  chief 
of  the  armies  of  Rome,  in  his  character  of  Imperator, 
and  the  sole  director  of  all  civil  business,  by  his  tribu- 
nitian power  ;  but  he  was  also,  as  high  pontiff,  at  the 
head  of  the  religion  of  his  country. 

VOL.  II.  F  jF 


434  NOTES  ON   THE 

Section  LX. 

(a)  For  a  full  account  of  the  origin  and  progress  of 
sanctuaries,  see  Grotius,  De  Jure  Belli  ac  Pads,  lib.  ii. 
cap.  21.  See  also  Spanlieim,  De  Usu  Numismatum, 
cap.  ix. 

Section  LXII. 

(a)  Lucius  Scipio  conquered  Antioclius  A.  U.  C  564. 
Mithridates  was  driven  out  of  Asia  by  Lucius  Svlla 
A.  U.  C.  670.- 

(b)  The  Persian  monarchy  was  founded  by  Cyrus 
A.  U.  C.  19o  ;  before  tiie  Christian  ara  559. 

(r)  Marcus  Perperna  conquered  Aristonicus,  v>ho 
made  an  irruption  into  Asia  A.  U.  C.  (i^2i.  See  Juslin, 
lib.  xxxvi.  s.  4.  Publius  Servilius,  in  the  year  of 
Rome  679,  conquered  the  pirates  of  Cilicia,  and,  after 
reducing  the  principal  cities  of  their  country,  stormed 
the  citadel  called  Isalhos,  and  thence  took  the  name  of 
IsAURicus.  Unde,  conscius  sibi  magnilaboris ,  Isaurici 
co2:nomen  adamatit.     Florus,  lib.  iii.  s.  6. 

(d)  For  king  Acrias,  see  History,  book  ii.  s.  3. 

Section  LXIIL 

(fl)  The  Venus  Slratonice  was  so  called  after  Stra- 
ionice,  grand-molher  of  Scleucus  II.  Avho  mounted  the 
throne  of  Syria  A.  U.  C.  507.  Whoever  desires  to 
know  more  about  the  worship  paid  to  tliLs  goddess,  will 
find  a  particular  account  in  Brotier^s  Tacitus,  vol.  i. 
p.  i\oy  4to.  edit. 

■  Section  LXI7. 

(r/)  All  questions  of  war  and  peace,  the  suspensitwi 
©f  hostilities  and  treaties  of  alliance,  were  referred  te> 
3 


THIRD  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.        435 

their  decision.  Fcodcruniy  pads,  belli,  induciarum  orw 
tores  fericdes  jiaUcesque  sunto.  Cicero,  De  Legibus, 
lib.  ii.  s.  9. 

Section  LXVI. 

{(i)  Tlic  original  says,  Eliam  pedarii  sencdores :  that 
is,  the  senators,  \vho,  when  (he  sense  of  the  assembly 
■\vas  taken  per  discessionem,  i.  a.  n:hen  the  house  divided, 
■\valkcd  over  to  tlie  side  of  those  with  whom  they  agreed. 
This  was,  according  to  Salliist  in  Catil.  pedibus  in  sen' 
ieniiani  ire.  Hence  the  verse  of  Laberius  the  satirist  : 
A  head  without  a  tongue,  is  a  pedestrian  opinion.  Ca- 
put sine  lijigua,  pcdaria  sententia  est. 

Section  LXVII. 

(rt)  Scipio  Africanus  accused  J^ucius  Cotta  A.  U.  C. 
662.  Cotta  was  acquitted,  lest  the  weight  and  dignity 
of  the  prosecutor  should  be  tliought  to  influence  the 
judges.  See  Valerius  Maximus,  lib.  \'iii.  cap.  1.  Galba 
had  been  governor  of  a  province  of  Spain,  and  was  im- 
peached by  Cato  the  censor,  A.  U.  C.  604.  See  Tal. 
Max.  lib.  viii.  cap.  2  :  and  Cicero,  De  Claris  Orat.  s.  23. 
Rutilius  was  a  candidate  for  the  consulship  against 
Marcus  Scaurus,  A.  U.  C.  645.  Being  disappointed  of 
his  election,  he  accused  the  successful  candidate,  and 
■was,  in  his  turn,  prosecuted  by  Scaurus.  Cicero,  De 
Cla*.  Orat.  s.  xxx. 

(6)  Seneca  mentions  Otlio  and  Brutidius ;  Contro* 
versiae,  lib.  ii.  s.  9. 

Section  LXVIII. 

(a)  lie  was,  in  the  time  of  Augustus,  proconsul  of 
Asia  J  a  man  of  inordinate  pride,  and  a  cruel  disposition. 

r  f2' 


436  NOTES   ON   THE 

It  is  said  that  three  hundred  men  were  put  to  death  by 
his  order  in  one  day.     Seneca,  de  Ira,  lib.  ii.  cap.  5. 
(b)  See  the  Geographical  Table. 

Seclion  LXX. 
(a)  For  more  of  Ateius  Capito,  see  this  book,  s.  Ixxii. 

Section  LXXI. 

(a)  There  had  been  at  Rome  a  temple  of  the  Eques- 
trian  Fortune,  built  by  Quintus  Fulvius  Flaccus,  in 
memory  of  a  signal  victory  obtained  by  him  in  Spain. 
Livy,  lib.  xl.  s.  40;  and  lib.  xlii.  s.  10. 

{h)  The  objection  made  by  Melellas,  was  debated 
with  great  warmth  in  the  senate,  and  also  before  the 
people.     See  Livy,  lib.  xxxvii.  s.  51. 

Section  LXXII. 

(a)  It  was  built  by  ^Emilius  Paulus,  who  was  consul 
A.  U.  C.  704.  Cicero  calls  it  a  glorious  structure.  Ni' 
hil  gratius  illo  vionumento^  nihil  gloriosius.  Ad  Atti- 
cum,  lib.  iv.  epist.  16. 

(J))  The  public  buildings  erected  by  Taurus,  Philip- 
pus,  Balbus  and  otliers,  are  mentioned  by  V^elleius  Pa- 
terculus,  lib.  ii.  s.  89  ;  and  more  particularly  by  Sueto- 
nius, in  Aug.  s.  xxix. 

(c)  Seneca  says,  with  indignation,  WJio  could  bear 
to  see  the  statue  of  Sejanus  placed  over  the  ashes  of 
Pompey?  a  base  perfidious  soldier  among  the  monu- 
ments of  a  great  commander  !  Qiiis  non  rumperetur^ 
supra  cineres  Cneii  Pompeii  const ilui  Scjanum^  ct  in 
inonumentis  maximi  imperutoris  consecrari  perfidum  mi' 
litem?  De  Consolat.  cap.  xxii. 


THIRD   BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        437 

Section  LXXIII. 

(a)  Sparfacus  kindled  up  the  servile  war  in  Italy 
A.  U.  C.  681.  He  gained  two  important  victories. 
Being-  defeated  in  a  battle  v.ith  Licinius  Crassus,  he  died 
bravely  sword  in  hand.  See  the  account  in  Fiorus, 
lib.  iii.  cap.  20. 

(b)  Sertoriuf-,  and  Mithridates  king  of  Pontus,  joined 
in  a  league  against  the  Romans,  A.  U.  C.  680.  Floras, 
lib.  iii.  s.  5. 

Section  LXXIV. 

(a)  Sallust  says,  the  Nuiiiidian  huts,  called  Mapalia 
Ly  ihe  natives,  were  of  an  oblong  form,  with  a  curre  ou 
each  side,  somewhat  resembling  a  ship.  De  Bell. 
Jugurth.  s.  xviii. 

(/>)  When  titles  of  honour  were  suppressed,  the  in- 
centives of  valour  were  extinguished,  and  military  glory 
faded  away. 

Section  LXXV. 

(a)  Asinius  Saloninus  was  the  son  of  Aslnius  Gallus, 
who  has  been  already  mentioned,  s.  viii.  by  Vipsania 
Agrippina,  who  had  been  the  wife  of  Tiberius,  and  was 
mother  of  his  son  Drusus  ;  of  course  he  was  grandson 
to  Asinius  Pollio,  who  for  his  victory  over  the  Salouii, 
a  people  of  Dalmatia,  was  called  Saloninus.  The 
grandson  enjoyed  the  title  of  his  grandfa'her.  He  was 
also  grandson  to  Agrippa  by  his  mother's  side.  See  the 
Genealogical  Table,  No.  69. 

{h)  Ateius  Capito  has  been  already  mentioned  in  this 
lx>ok.  s.  Ixx.  He  was  consul  A.  U.  C.  759;  of  tlie 
Christian  agra  5.  He  succeeded  Marcus  /Emilius  Le- 
pidus  and  Lucius  Arruntius  for  the  remainder  of  their 


438  NOTES  ON   THE 

year,  and  his  name,  therefore,  docs  not  appear  in  the 
Fasti  Consulares. 

(c)  Antistius  Labeo  is  mentioned  witli  lionour  in 
several  passages  of  the  Digest.  He  was  one  of  those 
men,  whose  singularities  are  forgiven  on  account  of 
their  talents  and  their  virtues.  His  father,  an  ardent 
and  zealous  republican,  resolved,  afier  the  battle  of 
Philippi,  not  to  survive  the  loss  of  public  liberty.  He 
was  dispatched  by  his  own  command,  by  one  of  his 
domestics,  whom  he  enfranchised,  tliat  he  might  not  die 
by  the  hand  of  a  slave.  Appian,  lib.  iv.  Tlie  son 
adopted  the  principles  of  his  father.  He  tliought, 
spoke,  and  acted,  upon  all  occasions,  with  a  republican 
spirit.  Augustus  knew  his  character,  and  yet  respected 
him.  We  are  told  by  Pomponius,  the  civilian,  Digest  J , 
tit.  ii.  s.  47,  that  the  consulship  for  part  of  the  year  was 
offered  to  him  and  rejected.  It  is  probable,  that  per- 
ceiving the  state-craft,  by  which  the  consular  autho- 
rity was  abridged,  and,  by  consequence,  impaired.  La-; 
beo  disdained  to  be  the  time-serving  consul  of  the  court. 
Aulus  Gellius  (lib.  xiii.  cap.  ]!2)  has  preserved  a  frag- 
inent  of  a  letter,  in  which  Capito  says  of  his  rival,  that 
Le  was  a  man  almost  frantic  with  the  love  of  liberty. 
jigitabat  Jwminem  liberlas  qucedam  mini  a  ct  vecors. 
Noctes  Atticae,  lib.  xiii.  cap.  1^.  The  favouri(e  at  the 
court  of  Augustus  might  naturally  enough  pronounce 
that  judgment.  And  yet  lye  fir'.d  that  the  obsequious 
Capito  could,  in  the  reign  of  Tiberius,  imitate  the  blunt 
freedom  of  his  rival.  Being  told  that  a  word,  coined 
by  Tiberius  in  one  of  his  speeches,  was  legitimate  Latinj 
or,  if  it  was  not,  that  it  would  soon  become  so  :  That, 
taid  Capito,  is  false;  for  you,  Cassar,  can  give  the  free- 
dom of  thp  city  to  men,  but  not  to  word^      Cerleja^'i 


THIRD   BOOK   OF  THE   ANXALS.        439 

mentilur,  inqidt  Capita  :  Tu  enim,  Caesar,  crcitatem  dare 
potcs  /lominibus,  verbis  non  potes.  Suetonius,  De  II- 
lustr.  Grammat.  cap.  xxii. 

Section  LXXVI. 

(a)  Junia  \>xis  the  daughter  of  Deciinus  Junius  Sila- 
nus  by  Servilia,  the  sister  of  Cato  of  Utica.  Servilia 
was  first  married  toM.  Junius  Brutus,  and  by  him  was 
the  mother  of  Brutus,  who  stabbed  Julius  (>aBsar.  Junia 
v/as,  of  course,  niece  to  Cato,  and  half-sister  to  Brutus. 
She  married  Cassius,  the  frieud  of  Brutus  ;  and  thus 
descended,  and  thus  allied,  the  sister  of  one  conspirator 
against  Caesar,  and  the  widow  of  another,  she  lived  un« 
molested  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  wealth  and  honour,  to 
an  extreme  old  age.  The  battle  of  Philippi  was  fought 
A.  U.  C.  712.  From  that  time  to  the  year  of  Rome  775, 
a  period  of  sixty-three  years  cxjmplete,  Junia  possessed 
splendid  riches,  and  was  buried  at  last  with  all  the  ho- 
nours of  a  public  funeral.  The  moderation  of  Augustus 
protected  her,  and  the  cruelty  of  Tiberius  was  not  yet 
unchained. 

(b)  The  constitution  being,  overturned,  the  assertors 
of  public  liberty  were  not  displayed;  but,  as  Tacitus 
elsewhere  says,  the  honour  which  was  denied  increased 
their  glory.  Ncgatus  honor  gloriam  intendit.  Annals^, 
jbook  iv.  s.  26". 


{    441     ] 

NOTES 

ON 

THE    FOURTH    BOOK 

OF 

THE  ANNALS. 


Section  I. 

(<0  (i^EE  tlie  Geoj^raphical  Table. 

^  (/;)  Velleiiis  Paterculus  the  historian,  who  lack-* 
eyed  at  the  feet  of  Sejanus,  says  that  the  father  Avas  the 
chjcf  of  the  Roman  knigh(s.  Nothing  more  is  known 
of  him, 

(f)  There  were  three  famous  epicures  of  the  name  of 
Apicius  :  one  mentioned  by  Athenreus  ;  a  second,  in  the 
time  of  Augustus  and  Tiberius  ;  and  a  third,  in  the  reign 
of  Trajan.  The  second  is  the  person  here  intended. 
Seneca  says  of  him.  In  that  city,  irom  which  the  teach- 
ers of  philosophy  were  banished,  this  man,  professing^ 
the  science  of  the  kitchen,  corrupted  tlie  manners  of 
the  age,  by  his  skill  in  cookery.  Apicius  nostra  me- 
morin  xixit^  qvi  in  ed  itrbe,  ex  qua  pfiilosophi,  vt  cor- 
ruptores  juventutis,  abire  jussi  sunl,  scicntiam  jiopinas 
professus,  disciplind  sua  sosculvm  infecit.  Seneca,  De 
Coiisolatione.  Finding  himself,  after  a  long  course  of 
profusion  and  gluttony,  much  involved  in  debt,  and, 
after  satisfying  all  demands,  not  worth  more  than  what 
iivxy-  be  called  IQOfiQQl.  he  fiaJi>licd  his  days  by  a  dosa 


442  KOTES  ox  THE 

of  poison.  Seneca  in  the  place  above  quoted.  For  the 
stilic  of  an  anecdote,  perliaps  little  known,  it  may  be 
proper  to  mention,  that  there  is  extant,  in  the  Latin 
Jang'uage,  a  book,  importing  to  be  Apicius's  Art  of 
Cookery.  La  Blctterie  relates  as  a  certain  fact,  that 
Madame  Dacier  and  lier  husband  were  almost  killed  by 
this  book.  Tliey  found  in  it  a  receipt  for  a  particular 
ra!^-quf,  and  being  both  inclined  to  dine  classically,  they 
>vcrc  almost  poisoned  by  their  learned  bill  of  fare. 

(d)  The  iicrnicious  consequences  which  attended  the 
rise  of  Sejanus,  "Nvill  be  seen  in  the  sequel.  His  ruin  was 
equally  the  cause  of  public  calamity  ;  since  Tacitus 
idh  us,  that  Tiberius,  Avhile  he  loved  or  feared  this  fa- 
vourite minister,  restrained  his  passions,  but  afterwards 
broke  out  with  unbounded  fury.    Annals,  book  vi.  s.  51. 

(e)  Assumed  and  well-acted  virtues  are  often  more 
"dangerous  tliau  the  worst  vices.     Addison's  Gato  says 

of  Julius  Caesar, 

Curse  ou  his  virtues !  they've  undone  his  country. 

Section  IL 

(a)  The  original  says,  inter  princip'm  legiomnn.  The 
same  expression  often  occurs  in  Tacitus,  and  requires 
an  explanation.  Between  the  tents  of  the  legions  and 
the  tribunes,  a  space  of  a  hundred  feet  in  breadth  was 
left,  which  formed  a  large  street,  called  Puincipia,  that 
ran  across  the  whole  camp,  and  divided  it  into  two  parts, 
the  upper  and  the  lower.  Duncan's  Cccsar,  vol.  i.  The 
j[lonian  Art  of  War. 

Section  IIL 

(a)  Drusus,  and  the  three  sons  of  Germanipus,  Nero. 
Drususj  and  Caligula, 


foi:rth  book  of  tije  axnals.    443 

(h)  S!ie  was  sister  to  Gcrmanicus.  See  tlie  Genea- 
logical Table,  No.  71. 

{(■)  Pliny  (he  elder  gives  a  dark  picture  of  the  pliv- 
sicians  of  his  time.  They  had  their  opportunities  to 
administer  poison,  to  make  wills,  and  manage  intrigues. 
Quid  enim  venenorum  fcrtilms  ?  aid  unde  pliires  testa- 
ment orv.m  insidke  ?  Jam  xero  et  adult eria  in  principzan 
domibusy  lit  Eudenu  iji  Lixid  Drus'i  Ctesaris.  Lib.  xxi:5it 
s.  8. 

Seciio/i  VI. 

(a)  He  was  then  fourteen  years  of  age. 

(b)  In  the  time  of  Tiberius,  Syene,  a  city  strontrly 
garrisoned,  at  the  farther  extremity  of  Egypt,  was  ihc 
boundary  of  the  Roman  empire.  Trajan  enlarged  the 
limits  as  far  as  the  Red  Sea.  See  book  i.  s.  xi.  note  (/;); 
and  book  ii.  s.  bci,  note  (b). 

Section  V, 

(a)  The  two  seas  v/ere,  Mare  Adriaticiim,  the  Adri- 
atic, now  the  Gulf  of  Venice;  Mare  Tyrrhenum,  no'.y 
the  Tuscan  Sea.  The  former  y.as  also  called  Marc  su-^ 
perum;  the  latter  IMare  infenmi.     Virgil  says, 

An  mare  quod  supra  mcraorcm,  quodque  alluit  iufra, 
Miscnum,  now  Capo  di  jlliseno,  was  a  promontory  in 
the  Tuscan  sea  ;  Ravenna  was  a  port  in  the  Adriatic. 
See  the  Geographical  Table. 

(h)  In  Upper  and  Lower  Germany,  according  to  the 
plan  of  Augustus.  Sc-c  the  Manners  of  the  Germans, 
s.  i.  note  (a). 

(r)  Juba's  father  was  king  of  Numidia.  He  attached 
himself  to  Pompey's  party,  and  took  a  decided  part 
against  Julius  Cwsar,    Even  after  the  death  of  Pompcy^ 


444  NOTES  ON  THE 

Ic  siood  at  bay  willi  Cffisar,  nnd,  at  length,  received  a 
total  overthrow  in  tlie  battle  of  Thapsa.  Determined, 
however,  not  to  fall  into  Ctesar's  hands,  he  retired  with 
Pctreiiis,  his  fellow  sufferer,  and,  at  the  close  of  a  ban- 
quet, fell  a  voluntary  victim  by  the  hand  of  a  friend. 
His  son  Ju])a  was  led  to  Rome,  to  walk  in  Caesar's  tri- 
umph. He  was  educated  at  tlie  court  of  Augustus,  and 
distinguished  himself  by  his  talents  and  his  literature. 
Augustus  gave  him  in  marriage  the  young  Cleopatra, 
daughler  of  tlie  famous  Cleopatra  by  Marc  Antony, 
and  sent  him  (Numidia  being  then  a  Roman  province) 
to  reign  in  Mauritania,  A.  U.  C.  721.  For  IVJ^aurilania, 
sge  the  Geographical  Table. 

(d)  Annals,  book  ii.  s.  67. 

(e)  We  are  told  by  Dio,  lib.  Iv.  tliat  the  establish- 
ment under  Augustus  was  ten  thousand  prffitorians,  di- 
vided into  ten  cohorts,  and  six  thousand  in  the  city 
cohorts.  The  number,  therefore,  was  reduced  by  Ti- 
berius. 

(f)  For  Etruria,  Umbria,  and  ancient  Latiunij  see 
the  Geographical  Table. 

(g)  Besides  their  fleets  for  the  sea  service,  the  Romans 
bad  always  proper  armaments  on  the  Rhine  and  the 
Danube. 

Section  VI. 

(a)  The  vile  abuse  of  the  law  of  violated  majesty  has 
Lcen  mentioned,  book  iii.  s.  xxxviii.  note  (a).  The 
first  men  in  Rome  were  victims  'o  it.  In  Shakespear's 
language.  It  was  a  net  to  emmesh  them  all.  It  will  not 
be  amiss  to  remark,  that  if  we  except,  as  Tacitus  does, 
that  single  grievance,  the  descrij^tion  of  the  nine  first 
jears  of  Tiberius  is  a  more  juot  aud  better  founded  pa- 


V  FOURTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.      44.5 

netryiic,  than  can  be  found  in  the  glittering  page  of 
Vellcius  Paterculus,  or  any  other  professed  encomiast- 
And  yet  this  is  the  historian  whom  certain  critics  have 
called  a  painter  in  dark  colours,  who  loves  to  represent 
men  worse  than  they  are. 

.  Section  \  II. 

(a)  Drusiis,  the  son  of  Tiberius,  cut  off  by  Sejanus, 
as  will  be  seen  iu  the  sequel. 

(h)  The  statue  of  Sejanus  was  placed  in  Pompey's 
theatre.  See  book  iii.  s.  72.  His  danghtcr  was  also  to 
be  married  to  Drnsus,  the  son  of  Claudius,  afterwards 
emperor.  For  Drusus,  see  the  Genealogical  Table, 
JSo.  102. 

Scciiun  Vill. 

(o)The  discover^'  was  made  by  Lygdus  A.  U.  C.  7S-i- 
See  this  book,  s.  xi ;  and  book  v.  supplement,  s.  3'6. 

Section  IX. 

(o)  Attus  Clausus,  by  birth  a  Sabine,  wenl  in  the  train 
of  followers  to  settle  at  Rome,  A.  U.  C.  250.  He  was 
well  received,  and  from  time  called  Appius  Claudius, 
the  founder  of  the  Claudian  race.  Livy,  lib.  ii.  s.  16. 
Annals,  book  xi.  s.  2i. 

Section  XI. 

(a)  Thi§  passage  affords  a  proof  of  the  historian's  in- 
tegrity. 

Section  XII. 

(a)  Seneca  represents  Tiberius  with  an  inflexible 
countenance  delivering  a  speech  that  melted  the  audi- 
ence into  tears.     He  adds,  by  this  firmness,  so  singular 


446  NOTES  ON  THE 

on  such  an  occasion,  Tiberius  proved  to  Sojanus,  who 
stood  at  his  elbow,  that  he  could  see  unmoved  the  deso- 
lation of  his  family.  Experiertdum  se  dedit  Sejmw  ad 
luiiis  stanti,  quam  palienier  posset  suns  perdereJ  ConsoL 
ad  Marciam,  s.  xv.  About  four  or  five  months  after  the 
death  of  Drusus,  deputies  arrived  from  Ilium  to  condole 
w  i'di  Tiberius  :  And  I,  he  said,  condole  with  you  for  the 
loss  of  Hector.     Suet,  in  Tib.  s.  liv. 

Sect  1071  XII  I. 

(a)  For  C'ibf/ra  and  /Egiion,  see  the  Geographical 
Table. 

(b)  See  Annals,  book  i.  s.  53.  For  Cercina,  see 
Gcogra  ph  ical  Table. 

(()  Lucius  Apronius  has  been  mentioned,  book  iii. 
s.  521.     For  /Eiius  Lamia,  see  Annals,  book  vi.  s.  27. 

Section  XIV. 

(n)  The  assembly  of  the  Ampldcti/ones  was  the  strand 
council,  or  national  convention  of  Greece.  ^Yhctherit 
■was  founded  by  Ainphict^on  (he  son  of  Deucalion^  or  by 
Acrisius^  according  to  Strabo's  opinion,  is  a  qiiesHon 
covered  by  the  clouds  that  hang  over  remote  ages.  The 
confederate  cities  of  Greece  sent  their  representatives  (o 
this  general  assembly,  which,  at  different  periods,  un- 
derwent various  changes,  some  cities  renouncing,  the 
league,  and  olhers  being  admitted.  Pausanias^  who 
lived  in  Ibe  time  o^  Antoninus  Pius,  assures  us,  that  the 
Amphictj/ons  Avcre  then  entire,  and  that  the  number  was 
tliirty,  being  delegated  from  the  cities  which  he  enu- 
merates. The  assembly  had  every  3'ear  two  set  meet- 
ings ;  one  in  the  spring  at  Delphos,  and  the  other  in  the 
autumn  at  Thermopjjlx.  See  Potter's  Antiquities,  vol.  i. 


FOURTH   BOOK  OF  THE   ANXALS.      447 

page  S9 ;  and  also  the  Memoirs  of  the  Academy  of 
Belles  Lettrcs,  vol.  iii.  and  v. 

{b)  Wliile  ]lome  was  ir.ade  a  theatre  of  blood  hj 
Maiius  and  S,  lla,  Mithridales,  king  of  Pontiis,  commit- 
ted a  general  massacre  of  tlie  iloman  citizeiis  throris.;h- 
out  Asia,  A.  U.  C.  G66  ;  before  the  Cliristian  a.'ra  88. 

(r)  Tlie  Oscnn  Farce  (.called  also  tlie  Atellan  Fable, 
from  Atel/a,  a  to^vn  in  Camp;inia)  was  invented  by  the 
Osci,  a  people  originally  of  J'ltruria,  bnt  finally  settled 
in  Campania.     Livj-,  lib-i  vii.  s.  2.'   See  also  V'ossius. 

Scclion  XV. 

(a)  He  was  about  four  years  old.  See  book  ii.  s.  84. 
See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  72  and  13. 

(b)  The  censorian  funeral  was  the  highest  honour 
that  could  be  paid  to  the  deceased.  The, purple  robe, 
and  other  imigniay  dsstinguished  it  from  a  public  funeral. 
See  Polybius,  lib.  vi, 

(c)  He  was  mentioned,  Annals,  book  iii.  s.  CG. 

Section  XVI. 

(a)  Three  forms  of. contracting  marriage  prevailed  at 
Rome.  1.  When  a  woman  cohabited  Avith  one  man 
for  the  space  of  a  year.  3.  When  the  marriage  was  a 
kind  of  bargain  and  sale  bet v/oen  the  parties,  which  was 
called  coe??7/>^/o.  3.  When  the  chief  pontiff,  distribut- 
ing flour  in  the  presence  of  ten  witnesses,  joined  the 
bride  and  bridegroom.  This  v/as  called  marriaffc  bv 
CoNFARREATioN.  Other  marriages  were  easily  dis- 
solved; but  that  by  confarreation  required  the  same 
solemnities  (Difarrcalio)  to  divorce  the  parties.  See 
liiotier's  Tacitus,  vol.  i.  page  427, 


448  NOTES  ON  THE 

Section  XX. 

{a)  What  law  this  was  is  not  agreed  among  the  com* 
mcntators ;  but  as  Tacitus  says  that  Silius  was  tried  on 
the  Lex  Majestalis^  Lipsius  thinks  that  was  the  hiw 
cited  on  this  occasion. 

(h)  Manius  Lepidus  has  been  already  mentioned, 
book  i.  s.  13;  book  iii.  s.  50.  For  more  of  him,  see 
Annals,  book  vi.  s.  27. 

(c)  The  word  immutable  is  inserted  in  the  translation, 
pcrliaps  improperly ;  since  Tacitus,  Avho  points  out  the 
safest  course  to  steer,  does  not  seem  to  admit  an  inevit- 
able fate. 

Section  XXI. 

(a)  Calpurnius  Piso  has  been  mentioned,  much  to  his 
honour,  book  ii.  s.  34. 

(b)  Cassius  Severus  was  an  orator  of  eminence,  and  a 
virulent  libeller  of  the  first  persons  of  both  sexes.  He 
was  banished  by  Augustns.  For  more  of  him,  see  the 
Dialogue  concerning  Oratory,  s.  xix.  note  (a). 

(c)  Seriphus,  a  small  island  in  the  /Egean  sea.  See 
the  Geographical  Table.     Juvenal  says, 

Et  parva.  tandem  caruisse  Seripho. 

Sat.  vi.  ver.  563. 

And  in  Satire  x. 

Ut  Gyari  clausus  scopulis,  parvaque  Seriplio^ 

Section  XXIIf. 

(a)  The  three  statues  Avere,  for  Furius  Camillus,  book 
ji.  s.  52;  L.  Apronius,  book  iii.  s.  21  ;  Junius  Blaesus, 
book  iii.  s.  72. 

(b)  Ptolemy  was  the  son  of  Juba,  who  was  made  king 


FOURTH  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.  449 

ofMaurifania  by  Augustus.  See  this  book,  s.  v.  note(c). 
He  was  put  io  death  by  Calii^ula  A.  U.  C.  792.  Suet. 
in  Calio;.  s.  26. 

(c)  See  the  Geographical  Table. 

(d)  In  general,  when  Africa  occurs,  Tacitus  intends 
the  Roman  province,  now  the  kingdom  of  Tunis, 

Sectioji  XXV. 
(fl)  A  castle  in  Numidia,  now  totally  destroyed. 

Section  XXVI. 

(fl)  Dionj'sius  of  Halicarnassus  mentions  the  same 
presents  sent  to  Porsena  by  the  Roman  senate,  A.  U.  C. 
249.  Painted  robes  occur  frequently  in  Homer,  and 
(according  to  Pliny,  lib.  viii.  s.  48)  were  used  after- 
wards as  triumphal  ornaments. 

Section  XXVII. 

(fl)  When  Julius  Ca?sar  was  joint  consul  with  Marcus 
Blbulus,  the  patricians,  with  the  approbation  of  Cato, 
agreed  to  assign  the  departments  of  smallest  conse- 
quence, such  as  woods  and  roads  (sj/kce  callesque)  to  the 
care  of  the  new  consuls.     Suet,  in  Jul.  Caes.  s.  19. 

{b)  The  slaves,  increasing  in  consequence  of  luxury, 
began  to  out-number  the  free-born  citizens. 

Section  XXVIII. 

(fl)  We  have  seen  Vibius  Serenns,  the  father,  who  had 
been  proconsul   in   Spain,  banished  to   the  island  of 
.  Amergos.     This  book,  s.  xiii. 

Section  XXIX. 

(cr)  The  populace  threatened  the  Rohur,  which  wai 
the  dark  dungeon  ;  the  Saxifm,  or  the  Tarpeian  Rock, 
VOL.   11.  .  G  G 


4,50  NOTES   ON   TliE 

from  Avhicl)  the  malefactors  were  tirrowii  lica(?]on2;  tlar\vrr: 

and  (he  pains  and  ])riiaUie,s  of  parricides,  described  by 

Cicero  in  his  Oration  Pro  Roscio  Amerino,  s.  xxvi. 

{!))  For  the  iniquitous  proceedings  against  Libo^  see 

book  ii.  s.  27. 

Seciiun  ^ 


(a)  When  the  person  accused  was  found  guilty,  the 
fourth  part  of  his  estate  and  effects  went  to  the  prosc- 
cutorS  ;  but  if  he  prevented  judgment  by  a  voluntary 
death,  his  property  descended  to  his  heirs;  and,  in  tliat 
case,  the  emperor  paid  his  harpies  out  of  the  fiscus,  tlie 
imperial  exchequer,  that  is,  out  of  his  own  coffers.  Ti- 
berius felt  the  burthen  of  so  heavy  an  expeuce^^  and  for 
tiiat  reason  opposed  the  motion. 

Section  XXXI. 

(a)  Suilliiis  was  accused  by  Semca  In  the  reign  of 
Nero.  In  return  he  declaimed  with  virulence  against 
the  ])hilosop]ier ;  but,  in  the  end,  was  baiiisiied  to  one 
of  the  Balearic  inlands,  and  there  ended  Iiisda^s.  An- 
nals, book  xiii.  s.  43. 

(b)  Catus  Firmius  ptolfcd  the  ruin  of  Libo«  See 
book  li.  s.  27. 

Sedhm  XXXiri. 

(^0  This  passage  merits  more  consideration  than  can 
be  comprciised  into  a  no'e.  Jt  will  not,  however,  be 
amiss  to  ofler  a  few  remarks.  It  is  admitted,  that  the 
three  original  forms  of  government,  namclj^,  Monahch  y, 
Aristocuacy,  and  Di^.mocuacy,  when  taken  sejju- 
rately,  are  all  defective.  Polybius  assigns  the  reason. 
Monarcliy,  he  says,  though  conducted  according  to 
right  reason,  will  in  time  degenerate  into  Diisi^oriSM. 


FOURTH   BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.      451 

Ariilocracj,  ■which  mrnns  a  government  of  the  best 
men,  will  be  converted  into  an  Or.iGAncHY,  or  the 
tyranny  of  a  few.  Democracy,  in  its  original  and  purest 
sense,  implies  a  system,  under  Avhich  the  people,  trained 
to  the  ancient  manners  of  their  countrj-,  pay  due  wor- 
ship to  tlie  eods,  and  obey  the  laws  established  by  com- 
mon consent :  but  sucli  a  government  is  soon  changed 
info  tumult,  rude  force  and  anarchy.  For  zoheyi  07ice 
the  people,  accustomed  to  notions  of  equalitj/,  "pay  neither 
rent  nor  taxes,  and  commit  depredations  on  their  neigh- 
bours; if,  at  such  a  time,  some  desperate  incendJarj/  should 
arise,  zi^hose poverti/  has  shut  him  out  from  alt  the  honours 
of  the  state  ;  tlien  commences  the  government  of  the  muU 
titude,  who  run  together  in  tumultuous  assemblies,  and 
are  hurried  into  everj/ kind  of  violence ;  assassinations, 
banishments,  and  divisions  of  lands,  till  thej/  are  reduced 
at  last  to  a  state  of  savage  anarchy.  See  Hampton's 
Polybius,  vol.  ii.  chnp.  1.  And  yet  Tacilus  saw,  that 
the  three  original  forms  might  be  moulded  into  a  beau- 
tiful system;  but  he  despaired  of  ever  seeing  it  eslab-* 
lished,  and  be  gives  his  opinion,  that  it  cannot  last 
long.  That  opinion,  liowever,  has  been  long  since  re- 
futed. The  government  of  Ki^ng,  Lords,  and  Com- 
mons, has  been  the  pride  of  Englishmen,  and  the  won- 
der of  all  Europe,  during'  several  centuries.  Tacitus, 
witli  his  usual  brevity,  said  less  than  he  thought ;  but 
the  reason  on  ^vhich  he  founded  his  opinion,  probably, 
was,  because  in  all  the  popular  governments  then  known 
in  the  world,  the  people  ac(ed  in  their  collective  body  ; 
and,  wiih  Polybius,  Tacittis  saw  the  fatal  consequences. 
He  had  no  idea  of  a  peojde  acting  by  representation o 
It  h  that  circumi^tapcc,  and  the  wise  regulations  of  our 

gg2 


152  NOTES  ON  THE 


.Tr" 


Ancestor*,  (hat  iiave  maclc  in  this  country  the  accord'm 
iimsic  of  a  icell-mixed  slate. 

('')  Tiie  forms  of  (he  republican  government  were  still 
proerved ;  the  magistrates  rctaiacd  their  ancient  names ; 
eadem  ma^istratKinn  -oocahula;  but  the  emperor  presided 
ovcr  the  whole  military  departmenty  and  his  tribanitian 
power  gave  him  the  ^ole  direction  of  all  civil  business. 

Section  XXXIV. 

(a)  Suetonius  soys,  a  poet  -was  prosecuted  for  verses 
a-gainst  Agamemnon ;  and  an  historian  (meaning  Cordus) 
for  calling  Brutus  and  Cassius  the  last  of  the  Ro- 
wans, The  authors  Vrcre  put  to  death,  and  iheir  writiugs 
suppressed,  though  they  had  been  read  to  Augustus,  and 
approved  by  that  emperor.  Suet,  in  Tib.  s.  61.  Seneca, 
ia  his  Essay  on  Consolation,  to  Marcia,  the  daughter  of 
Cremutius  Cordus,  snys,  her  father  Avas  not  put  to  death 
for  praising  Brutus  and  Cassiu'^,  but  for  his  keen  reflec- 
tions on  Sejanus,  and  therefore  fell  a  victim.  De  Con- 
solat.  ad  Marciara,  cap.  xxii.  **' 

(/;)  We  are  told  by  Plutarcl),  that  the  Romans  called 
Phitopicmenes  the  last  of  the  Greeks,  as  if,  afier  his 
dea(h,  that  nation  had  produced  no  illustrious  character. 
See  the  Life  of  Philopienienes. 

(c)  Pnblius  Valerius,  afterwards  styled  Publicola, 
was  the  ar.thor  of  a  law,  by  which  any  person  whatever, 
who  had  the  ambi(ion  to  aim  at  the  supreme  power,  so 
lately  abolished,  should  forfeit  his  head  and  all  his 
elTccts.  Livy,  lib.  ii.  s.  8.  Plutarch  adds,  in  the  Life 
of  PuBLicoLA,  that  io  kill  the  man  who  favoured 
royalty,  was  justifiable  homicide,  provided  the  guilt  was 
■dearly  proved.     And  yci,  notwithstanding  tills  lavvj 


FOUTITII  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.     45S 

Ernti)s  and  Cassius  Avere  called  murderers  and   pirri- 
cidcs. 

S«:tinn  Xr.XV. 

(a)  Seneca,  de  Conj;Glalione  ad  Marciam,  c-ip.  xx'A. 
o;ives  a  circimnstantiai  account  of  his  death.  lie  ^Yas 
Ihrcc  days  starvins^  himseif. 

(/.)  S.Mieca  says  to  Marcia,B*i'mns  gave  your  father 
as  a  donative  or  a  iariress  to  his  crea'nre  Sahius  Sccun- 
das.     Sc'jamis  patretn  titnm  cUe-n'i  s2/o  Satrio  Srarndo 
von^'iarium  dcdit ;  yet  he  was  not  able,  wi'.h  all  liisin- 
terest  at  court,  to  suppress  th>e  uerks  of  Cordiis,  thono^h 
he  FDcured  an  order  ta  burn  thembv  the  pu?)lico(r!cer. 
Sgneca  praises  Marcia  for  the  filial  piety  th  it  preserved 
the  -works  of  her  filher,  and  brou<i;ht  ihen\  into  public 
notice  af'er  his  death.     He  tells  lier,  tliat  by  savino;  his 
writinijs  she  gave  new  life  to  the  bo'>ks,  which  he,  who 
suffered  death,  may  be  said  to  have  wri  ten  in  his  blood. 
Jngaiium  patth  tiii,  de  quo  sumptum  crat  sz'pplkiinn^  in 
umm  hominum  rcduxhli,  et  a  xerd  ilium  xindicasii  moite^ 
ac  resliluisti  in  publica  monumenla  libron^  quos  'cir  ille 
foriissimus  sangmp.c  sua  scripserat.     He  adds,  tlsat  the 
memory  of  her  father  will  live,  as  long  as  the  Romans 
sliall  wish  to  review  the  b.istory  of  their  own  afialrs  ;  as 
long  as  posterity  shall  desire  to  hv.ow  the  man,  v>!kvc 
genius  was  unfettered,  uliose  S!;irit  was  unconqnered, 
and  whose  hand  was  ready  to  {leliver  liimself  from  his 
enemies.       Cujus  viget  xigclitque  memoria,  quamdiu 
fuerit  in  preflo  Romana  cogJiosci ;  qvamdiu  qitisqnam 
relil   scire,  q^id  sit   xir   Romanus,   indomitii?;   iugenin^ 
animo,  nKOiu  liber.     Seneca,  ad  Marciam,  cap.  i.     See 
more  on  this  j^ubjoct  of  burning  books.  Life  of  Agricola, 
s.  ii.  note  (r). 


454  NOTES  ON  THE 

Secfioji  XXXVI. 

(a)  The  Latin  festival  was  inslitutod  b}' Tarquiiiiu? 
Superbiis,  and  celebraled  every  year  in  tlie  beginning  of 
May,  on  the  Mount  Albanus,  near  the  ruins  of  tlie  ci(y 
of  Alba.  Livy,  lib.  li.  s.  ]6.  The  consuls  and  other 
magistrates  went  forth  in  procession  ;  and,  during  their 
absence,  a  person  of  high  rank  was  chosen  to  discliarge 
the  functions  of  consul,  and  preserve  the  peace  of  the 
city.  See  Annals,  vi.  s.  II .  In  conformity  to  this  cus- 
tom, we  find  Drusus  acling  on  this  occasion. 

{!))  The  son  who  accused  his  fatlier,  this  book,  s.  !?S, 

Section  XXXVJII. 
(a)  A  sense  of  moral  obligation  is  tlic  true  motive  of 
Tirtr.e.  Many  who  act  from  that  principle  do  good  by 
stealthy  and  blush  to  find  it  fame.  This,  however,  is  not 
a  contempt  of  fame  ;  it  is  a  wish  not  to  have  it  thought 
the  spring  of  virtuous  actions.  With  others,  the  love  of 
fame  is  the  sole  incentive.  Some  pursue  it,  regardless 
of  the  rectitude  of  their  conduct,  but  sensible  of  the  va- 
lue of  a  fair  report  in  tlieir  commerce  with  tjie  world. 
Mulii  famam.,  pauci  conscieniiam  xcrentur.  Ot Iums  con« 
sider  fame  as  the  reward  of  a  Avell-acted  lift*,  and  know 
no  other  motive.  The  cfKct,  in  (he  last  case,  is  finely 
described  b^  Mr.  Addi^in  : 

Honour's  a  sacred  tie,  the  law  of  kings; 
The  noble  mind's  distinguishing  perfection, 
Tliat  aids  and  strengthens  virtue,  where  it  meets  licr, 
And  imitates  her  actions  where  she  is  not. 
'Tis  not  to  be  sported  with. 
From  the  man  who  does  sport  with  it.  who  despises  fame, 
and  has  great  talents,  witliout  one  virtue,  what  can  b^ 
expected  ? — Su-^picion,  cruelty,  hibt,  and  maisacre. 


FOURTJI  BOOK  OF  THE   AXXALS.      4,55 

Scciion  XXXIX* 

(a)  She  who  conspired  against  lier  busbantl,  Dnisus. 
This  book,  s.  iii. 

(i^)  The  custom  was  begun  by  Julius  Caesar,  and  con-, 
firiucd  by  Augustus.     Suetonius,  in  Aug.  s.  81/ 

((■)  The  daughter  of  Sej  nius  was  to  liave  been  married 
to  ])rusus,  (he  sou  of  Claudius.  Annuls,  iii.  s.  29, 
This  bjok,  s.  7. 

(d)  Julia,  the  daughter  of  Augustus. 

Section  XL. 

(a)  Antonia  was  her  mother,  and  T.ivin,  (lie  widow  of 
Aiigustus,  was  her  grandmother.  See  the  Geneabgical 
Table.  No.  7J. 

{h)  Proculeius  is  mentioned  to  IiIs  honour  by  Horace. 

Vivet  extento  Proculeius  fevo, 
Notus  in  fratrcs  animi  paterni. 

((■)  Some  of  the  commentators  have  been  at  great 
pains   to  unravel  this   mysterious  passage.     He  wliosc 
curiosity  is  cjfcited  by  difticulty,  and  even  sliarpened  by- 
impossibility,  may  linvethe  pleasure  of  (oiling  through 
tn  elaborate  dissertation  on  this  subject  by  La  Blctterie. 
After  all,   the  passage  seems  to  l)e  in  (lie  style  which 
Tiberius  loved  and  practised  ;  dark  and  impenetrable. 
Stu  naturuy  she  adsiicfudinc,  suspensa  semper  el  obscura 
verba     Annals,  book  i.  s.  11.     Perhaps  he  meant  to  as- 
sociate Sejanus  with  himself  in  the  tribunitian  power. 

Section  XLir. 

(a)  Montanus  v.ns  an  eminent  orator,  but  too  co- 
pious, and  often  redundant.  Not  content  "w  iih  a  tliought 
happily  expressed,  he  recurred  to  it  again;  and  wanting 


456  NOTES  ON   THE 

to  place  it  in  a  new  light,  lie  disfigured  what  v/as  well 
said,  and  went  on  repeating  and  retouching  the  same 
thing,  till  he  spoiled  the  whole.  Scaurus  called  him  the 
Ovid  of  orators  :  observing  at  the  same  time,  tliat  to 
know  when  to  leave  off  is  an  essential  part  of  oratory, 
not  less  than  the  choice  of  proper  expression.  Hahet 
hoc  Montanu^  xitium  :  dum  non  est  content  us  vnam  rem 
semel  bene  dicer e,  e fecit  ut  ne  bene  dixerit.  Propter 
hoc  solebat  Montanuni  Scaurus  inter  oralores  Oiidium 
vocare.  Aiehat  Scaurus  non  minus  magnam  xirtutcm 
esse  SCIRE  desinere,  quam  scire  dicere.  Seneca,  Cour 
trovers,  iv.  cap.  §8.  Montanus  was  also  a  poet.  Ovid 
says  of  him,  that  he  excelled  in  heroic  metre,  and  the 
tender  elegy : 

Quippe  vel  imparibus  numeris.  Montane,  vel  acquis 
SulTicis,  et  gemino  carmine  nomen  habcs. 

{h)  Eusebius,  in  his  Chronicon,  says,  he  was  banished 
to  the  Balearic  Islands,  and  there  finished  his  days. 
Votienus  Montanus,  Narbonensis  orator,  in  Balcaribus 
insulis  moritur,  illuc  a  Tiherio  relegatus- 

(c)  There  were  two  modes  of  expulsion  from  the  ri'y 
of  Rome.  One  was  rf/eg«^?o;  i\\Q  oihc.x  exilium .  The 
former  was  a  mere  order  of  removal  to  a  certain  dis- 
tance; but  the  person  so  punishf^d  did  not  forfeit  hs 
property,  nor  the  freedom  of  the  city.  Banishment  took 
away  every  right.  Tiberius  chose,  on  ^his  occjision,  to 
inflict  the  severest  punishment. 

id)  The  Album  Senaiorium  was  a  register  of  the  se- 
nators publislicd  every  year,  according  to  a  rcgulalion 
of  Aiigustiis. 

Section  XLIII. 
(o)  Brpticr  says,  as  far  as  can  be  collected  from  Pau- 


FOtRTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS,      457 

saiiias,  this  temple  was  not  far  from  the  phice  now  called 
Zarmdn,  near  the  Gulf  of  Cor 07i  in  the  Morea. 

(b)  An'io-ouus,  king  of  Macedonia,  cUolI  in  the  4ih 
year  of  the  IjOth  Olympiad,  A.  U.  C.  5j3. 

(c)  Lucius  Miunmius,  conqueror  of  Corinth,  A.  U.  C, 

608. 

{d)  "When  Greece  was  reduced  to  subjection,  the 
Romans  gave  to  the  whole  country  the  general  name  of 

Achn'ta. 

(e)  A  town  in  Sicily,  now  Castd  a  3lare,  in  the  vale 
of  3Ia~arn.  The  temple  of  Venus  Ertjcina  was  after- 
wards rebuilt  by  Claudius  Suet  nius,  Life  of  Claudius. 

{[)  Publius  ilutilius  is  called  by  Velleius  Paterculus, 
the  best  man  not  only  of  iiis  own  time,  but  of  any  age 
whatever.  He  was  baniblied,  to  the  great  grief  of  the  city 
of  llouic.  Pubiium  Rufiliuin,  virum  non  sccculi  sui^  sed 
cmnisy  (£vi  oplimum,  interrogalum  /ege  repetimdannny 
viaximo  cum  gemitu  chitatis,  damnaveranl,  V^dl.  Paterc. 
lib.  ii.'S.  IS.     See  Seneca,  epist.  l.\xix. 

Section  XLiY. 

(a)  Lentulns  was  cori.^ul  A.  U.  C.  740.  For  his 
victories  over  the  Gaeiulians  in  Africa,  he  obtained 
triumphal  ornaments.  See  Velleius  Paterculus,  lib.  ii. 
s.  IK).  lie  was  sent  with  Drusus  iulo  Pant.onia,  An- 
nals, i.  s.  27. 

(/))  Ijucius  Domitius  iT.nobarbus.  His  son  Cneius 
Domitius  /l^noburbus  married  Agrippiun,  the  daughter 
of  Germanicus,  and  by  her  was  fat  her  of  Nero.  See  the 
Gencah>gical  Table,  No.  33  and  Xo.  24. 

(r)  See  the  Memoirs  of  the  House  of  Brandebourg, 

by  the  late  king^of  Prussia.     It  is  there  said,  l)ut  not  on 

g;  od  authority,  that  the  Romans  never  passed  ihc  Elbe. 

(d)  Julius  Anlouiusj  the  father  of  Luci'.is,  has  been 


458  NOTES   ox   THE 

already  menlioncd,  Annals,  iii.  s.  IS.    Sec  the  Gcnealo- 
gical  Table,  No.  ii9  and  No.  SO. 

Settiofi  XLF. 
(a)  See  the  Geographical  Tabh?. 

Section  XLVII. 
(a)  See  the  Geographical  Table. 

Section  LI  I. 

(a)  Domitius  Afer,  nn  orafor  highly  commended  by 
Quinfiiian.  See  Dialogue  concerning  Oratory,  s.  xiii. 
note  (d). 

(b)  Sosia,  tlie  wife  of  Siliiis  :  this  book,  s.  xix.  and 

XX. 

(r)  Snefonjus  relates  this,  and  snys  Tibcrins  never 
afterwards  conversed  ^vith  Agripj^ina.  IJberius  quid-^ 
^am    ciucestam,  manu  apprehendit^  Gra'coque  icrsu,  Si 

NOjV    DOMIXAUIS,    inquit,    IlI.iOLA,  IXJURIAM    TE  AC- 

cjPERE  ExisTiMAs.      Ncc  ifil'o  'posl  sermone  dignatus 
est.     In  Tib.  s.  53. 

(d)  Quintilian  has  said  the  same  thing  of  Domitius 
iifer;  see  Dialogue  concerning  Eloquence,  in  the  Sup- 
plement, s.  8,  note  (a).     The  great  criiic  advises  all 
men  of  talents  not  to  wait  for  the  decays  of  age;  but  to 
sound  a  retreat  in  time,  and  anchor  safely  in  port,  before 
the  vessel  is  disabled.     Tlie  consequence,  he  s^ys,  will 
be,  that  the  man  of  genius  will  enjoy  a  state  of  tran- 
quillity, removed  from  scenes  of  contention,  out  of  the 
reach  of  calumny,  and  will  have,  while  he  is  still  alive, 
a  foretaste  of  his  posthumous  fame,     yintequam  in  /tas 
ceiaiis  x^tniat  insidias,  rrccptui  canel;  ct  in  portuni  inlcp;rd 
note  perx^nict.     Ac,  cum  jam  sccreiits,  liber  iniJdid, 


FOURTH  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.      459 

procul  a  contentionibus,  famam  in  tuto  coUocaxit^  sentiet 
xivus  earn,  qncc  post  fata 'prcesiari  magis  solety  •cenera- 
tioneniy  ct  quid  apiid  poslcros  futurus  sit  videbit.  Quiii- 
(iliau,  lib.  xii,  cup.  W. 

Section  LIII. 

{(i)  She  -was  ihe  daiiglifcr  of  Gcrnianicus  and  Agrip- 
pi  Da.  Sec  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  93.  Pliiij  the 
elder  commends  her  Menjoirs,  lib.  vii.  s.  8. 

Section  hlY. 
(a)  This  is  mentioned  by  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  53. 

Section  LY, 

(a)  The  war  -with  Perseus,  king  of  Maccdon,  was 
A.  U.  C.  583.  Aristonicns  invaded  Asia  A.  U.  C.  623. 
From  that  lime,  that  part  of  Asia  ^^as  made  a  Roman 
province,  and  the  vices  of  the  East  corrupted  the  Roman 
inanners.  Jlsia  Jionianonwi  facia,  cum  opibus  suis  "diia 
quoqi/.e  Romam  transmisit.  Jufctiu,  lib.  xxxvi.  s.  4  : 
Piorus,  lib.  ii.  s.  20. 

(h)  For  these  several  people,  see  the  Geographical 
Table. 

((■)  For  Fiium.  sec  the  Gcogra]5hical  Table. 

(^0  For  Halycarnassus,  see  the  Geographical  Table. 

(r)  Atys,  the  son  of  Hercules  and  Omphalc.  Hero- 
dotus, lib.  i. 

Section  LVI. 

(a)  S.i^c  the  Geographical  Tabic. 

(b)  Cato,  called  the  Censor,  was  consul  A.  U.  C.  559. 
(r)  Cartilage  was  destroyed  by  Scipio,  A.  U.  C.  608. 


460  NOTES  ON  THE 

Section  LVII. 

(a)  Scjanus  has  been  montioneci  as  (he  cause  of  the 
emperor's  retreat.     This  book,,s.  41. 

(b)  Suetonius,  section  G8,  descril)cs  Tiberius  large, 
robust,  and  of  a  stature  above  the  usual  size.  Tnciius 
speaks  of  him  when  he  \\s.b  bent  under  the  yveiglit  of 
years. 

(c)  Some  plijsicians,  have  been  of  opinion  that  tliis 
was  the  venereal  disease;  bul  it  is  ceriain,  that  Europe 
knew  nothing  of  that  disorder  before  the  discovery  of 
the  New  World.  Fracastorius  has  written  an  elegant 
Latin  poem  on  the  subject. 

(d)  Suetonius  sajs,  there  was  a  current  report,  that 
Livia,  incensed  by  the  baui^hty  carriage  of  her  son,  pro- 
duced the  letters  of  Augustus,  coniplainir.g  of  the  pride 
a  d  arrogance  of  Tiberius.  The  produc'ion  of  '.hose 
papers,  at  such  a  distance  of  time,  \\ as  thought  <o  be 
his  principal  reason  for  leaving  Home.  Suet,  in  Tib. 
s.  51. 

Section  L\'Iir. 

(a)  Cocccius  Nerva  ended  his  days  by  abstinence 
A.  U.  C,  786,  to  withdraw  himself  from  (he  horror  of 
the  times.  Annals,  book  vi.  s.  2-6.  Brotier  says,  he 
"was  thought  to  be  father  of  the  emperor  Nerva. 

(b)  He  was  afterwards  ruined  by  Sejanus.  Sec  book  vi. 
5.  10;  see  Ovid  de  Ponfo,  lib.  ii.  cleg.  iv.  and  vii. 

(c)  'i  hcse  Greek  attendants,  and  ihe  cruelties  inflicted 
upon  them  by  Tiberius,  are  mentioned  in  Suetonius, 
s.  56 ;  and  see  Annals  v.  in  the  Supplement,  s.  42. 
There  were  also  in  his  train  a  number  of  Chaldean  astro- 
logers, or  matliciraticians,  as  they  chose  (o  call  tiiern* 
selves.     Juvenal,  sat.  x.  vcr.  94. 


FOURTH   BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.      461 

Section  LIX. 

(a)  This  was  in  C;impani;i,  on  tlie  sca-coist,  near 
Terracina.  The  villa,  according  lo  Broticr,  is  now 
called  Sptrlom^a. 

Section  LX. 

(a)  Julia,  the  cV.iughler  of  Drusus,  son  of  Tiberius,  bj 
his  wife  Livia  or  LiviUa.  See  the  Genealogical  Table, 
No.  71  and  74. 

Section  LXI. 

(a)  Asinius  Agrippa,  grandson  to  the  famous  Asinius 
Pollio,  (he  friend  of  Augustus,  was  consul  A.  U.  C.  778. 
See  tills  book,  s.  34. 

(b)  Hatcrius  flourished  in  the  time  of  Augustus,  He 
■was  an  eminent  orator,  but  so  copious  and  rapid,  that 
the  emperor  compared  him  to  a  charioi  that  required  a 
spoke  in  t!ie  wh -els.  Jlaterins  noster  siijr.nminandus 
est.  Seneca,  Controvers.  lib.  iv.  in  Priefatione.  See 
also  Seneca,  epist.  xL  Eusebias,in  hisChronicon,  says 
he  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety. 

Section  LXII. 

{(i)  See  the  Geographical  Table. 

(/.)  Under  the  gloomy  reign  of  Tiberius,  the  people 
lost  their  favourite  amusements,  and,  therefore,  ran  in 
crowds  to  tlie  theatre  and  other  spectacles,  whenever  an 
opportunity  offered. 

Section  LXIII. 
(a)  Suetonius  snys,  twenty  thousand  ;  in  Tib.  s.  40. 

Section  LXI  7. 

(a)  One  of  the  seven  hills  of  Rome. 
1 


462  NOTES  ON  THfi 

(b)  Suetonius  mentions  this  conflagration  ;  in  Tib. 
s.  48. 

Section  LXV. 

(a)  The  origin  of  t!ie  Tuscan  Street  is  accounted  fof 
in  a  different  manner  by  Livy,  lib.  ii.  s.  14. 

Sectiojz  LXVI. 

(a)  The  son  of  Quinctilius  Varus,  ^vho  [  cri.shcd  Avilli 
his  three  legions  in  Germany.  See  the  Genealogical 
Table,  No.  98.  The  prosecution  of  Claudia  Fulchra 
has  been  mentioned,  this  book,  s.  52. 

Section  LXVI  I. 

(«)  The  isle  of  Cciprea  lies  at  a  small  distnnce  from 
the  promontory  of  Surrentum  (now  Capjw  della  Minn-' 
va),  and  has  the  whole  circuit  of  the  bay  of  Naples  in 
view.  It  is  about  four  miles  in  length  from  east  to  west, 
and  about  one  in  breadth.  See  Addison's  Description' 
in  his  Travels  in  Italy. 

(b)  For  the  barbarity,  with  which  Tiberius  treated  all 
that  landed  on  the  island  without  permission,  see  Sueto- 
nius, in  Tib.  s.  GO;  and  see  Annals,  v.  in  Ihc  Supple- 
ment, s.  41. 

(c)  The  eruption  of  Vesuvius  happened  in  the  reign 
of  Titus,  A.  U.  C.  8S2,  A.  D.  79.  Pliny  gives  a  de- 
scription of  it,  lib.  vi.  epist.  xvi.  and  xx. 

(d)  Tiberius  fortified  an.d  fitted  up  for  his  rrsideticc 
twelve  villas  on  the  island,  and  gave  to  each  tiie  name 
of  one  of  the  gods.  Suetonius  mentions  the  Villa  Joxlsy 
in  Tib.  s.  G5. 

Section  LXVI  If. 
{a)  Sab;.uus  has  btcn  already  mentioned  as  a  person 


FOURTH   BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.      4G3 

marked  out  f.)r  deslriiction  hy  Sejanus.     This  bcwk, 
vS.  xviii.  and  xix. 

Section  I^XX. 

(a)  The  ori<i-Iiial  shortly  says,  tnihehalur  damnatus  ; 
but  it  is  clear  f'roui  the  context,  that  he  was  hurried  to 
execution.  Dio  says,  he  Vras  dragged  with  a  hook  in 
his  mouth  to  the  GcmonicB  (Ihe  j)lace  where  malefactors 
were  exposed),  and  afterwards  thrown  into  the  Tiber. 
Pliny  the  elder  relates  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  af- 
fection of  Sabinus's  dog.  Tlint  faitliful  domestic  fol- 
lowed his  r.iaster  to  the  prison,  and  afterwards,  at  tlic 
Gemonice,  staid  Avith  the  corpse,  with  pathetic  cries  and 
dismal  howliiiirs  lament iuir  the  loss.  Food  was  offered 
to  the  dog ;  he  took  it,  and  held  it  io  his  master's  mouth ; 
and  finally,  when  the  body  was  thrown  into  the  Tiber, 
that  generous  animal  leaped  into  the  water,  and  endea- 
voured to  keep  the  remains  of  his  master  from  sinking. 
Cum  animadverteretur,  ex  causa  Nernnis  GcrmanicifHii^ 
in  Tilium  SaJnninn  et  serxitiu  ejus,  ccinein  ncc  a  carcere 
abigi  pofuisse,  ncc  a  corpore  ?'ecessisse  in  gradibus  Gr-' 
7noniis,  cdenlem  ululafus,  magna  popuH  Romani  corona  ; 
ex  qua  cum  quidam  ci  ciham  ohjecissct^  ad  os  defuncti 
tulisse.  Innalaiit  idem  in  Tiberim  cadaver  abjecli  sus' 
teniare  conafus,  cjfusd  muU'ti'dine  ad  spectandum  cini- 
inalis Jldem.     Pliny,  lib.  viii.  s.  (il. 

Section  I^XXt. 

(a)  In  what  reiuains  of  Tacitus,  we  find  the  punish- 
ment of  Latiaii!S  only.  Sec  Annals,  vi.  s.  4.  The  rest 
suffered  under  Caligula. 

{b)  Asinius  Gallus  tnarricd  Vipsania  Agrippina,  the 
daughter  of  M.   Agrippa    by   Pomponia,   the  grand- 


464  NOTES  ON  THE 

dau:rb(cr  of  iKticus,  after  she  was  divorced  from  Tibe-' 
rius.  Agrippina,  the  wife  of  Gennanicus,  was  also  the 
daughter  of  Agrippa  by  Julia,  the  daughter  of  Augus- 
tus ;  and  being  half-sister  to  the  wife  of  Asinius  Gallus, 
she  was,  of  course,  aunt  to  his  children.  See  the  Genea- 
logical Table. 

(r)  She  was  guilty  of  adultery  with  Silanus.  See 
book  iii.  s.  24. 

{d)  For  Trimetusj  see  the  Geographical  Tablc^ 

Section  LXXIT. 

(d)  The  Frisians  inhabited  along  tlie  sea-coast,  be- 
tween the  Rhine'  and  the  Amisia  (the  Ems).  See  ihe 
Geographical  Table;  and  the  Manners  of  the  Germans, 
s.  xxi\%  and  nolc  (b). 

(h)  Drusus,  the  father  of  Germanicns.  See  the  Ge- 
nealoi>ical  Table,  No.  79  and  81. 

(c)  Cicsar  has  described  this  species  of  cattle.  The 
Uiii,  he  says,  nearly  equal  the  elephant  in  bulk,  but  in 
colour,  shape,„and  kind,  resemble  the  bull.  They  are 
of  uncommon  strength  and  swiftness,  and  spare  neither 
man  nor  beast  that  comes  in  their  way.  See  Duncan's 
Caesar,  book  vi.  s.  2G.    Caesar,  lib.  vi.  s.  28.    Virgil  haa^ 

Sylvestres  Uri  assidue,  caprcaique  scquaccs. 

Georgics,  lib.  ii. 

(d)  Ft.evum  castle  was  on  the  borders  of  the  river 
Flevus,  bnt  no  vestige  of  it  remains  at  present.  The 
river  is  swalU>.ved  up  by  the  great  gulf,  called  Zu'ider- 
Zee.    See  the  Geographical  Table. 

Sect  ion  LXXIIf. 
(a)   There    were    three    diflcrcnt    establishments    of 


FOURTH  BOOK.  OF  THE  ANNALS.   465 

fcavaliy  in  the  Roman  armies;  namely,  the  troops  of* 
horse  belonging  to  each  legion  ;  the  cavalry  that  formed 
a  separate  corps,  as  Ala  Pttriua,  S/jllana,  Scrihonia  ; 
and  tlie  cavalry  of  the  allies,  as  Ala  Bafavurian,  Tre- 
xerorum,  &Ci  For  the  Caninefatcs,  see  the  Geographi- 
cal Table. 

(b)  Brotier  calls  it  the  largest  forest  in  the  territory 
t)f  the  Frisians^  known  at  present  by  the  nameofSi:vEM 
WoLhEN. 

Section  LXXV. 

(a)  Her  father,  Germanicus,  being  adopted  by  T ibe- 
tius,  she,  of  course,  was  the  emperor's  grand-daughter. 
8ee  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  93.  For  her  husband 
Doraitius  i^^nobarbus,  see  ihe  Table,  No.  34c.  It  was 
said  of  him,  if  he  had  not  been  the  father  of  Nero,  he 
would  have  been  the  worst  man  of  the  age* 


tOL,  II*  H  H 


NOTES 


ON 

THE    FIFTH    BOOK 


OF 


THE  ANXALS. 


Section  I, 

(f/)rj^ILLEMONT,  in  his  History  of  iLe  Emperors^ 
-*-  iixes  the  passion  of  our  Saviour  in  this  jear. 
Lactantius  and  many  of  the  fathers  are  of  tiic  same  opi^ 
aion.  The  ^vriters  of  modern  date  place  tliat  great  event 
four  years  later,  in  the  xixth  of  Tiberius,  instead  of  xvth, 
and  their  calculation  is  now  generally  adopted.  See 
Brotier's  Tacitus,  vol.  i.  page  316',  4to  edition.  Taci- 
tus, incidentally,  mentions  Jegus  Christ,  and  his  sufter- 
ings  under  Pontius  Pilate,  Annals,  xv.  s.  41, 

(A)  Augustus  by  his  last  will  adopted  lier  into  the 
Julian  family,  under  the  additional  name  of  Augusta. 
Annals,  book  i.  s.  8.  'i'acitus,  after  that  time,  calls  her 
Julia,  Juija  Augusta,  and  frequently  Augusta 
only.  For  the  salvc  of  unitbrmity  she  is  always  called 
JJvia  in  tiie  translation,  and  once  or  twice  Empress 
MoUier^  though  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  the  ap- 
pellation is  premature.  The  Ronums  had  no  title  to 
correspond  with  K/ri press,  Scf/alKcss,  Sec.  Sec  an  Essay 
ou  the  mime  of  Augustus,  Memoirs  of  the  Academy  of 
Belles  Lettres,   vol.  x:x.  4lo  edilioa.     Julia  died,  ac"- 

n  u  2 


4(58  ,    NOTES  ON  TIIE^ 

cordins^lo  J^l'my,  lil>.  xiv.  s.  G,  at  (be  age  of  eighty-two. 
Her  lather  was  of  the  ClaucUau  family,  and,  being 
adopted  into  the  house  of  Liviiis,  took  the  natnc  of  Li- 
vius  Drusns  Chmdianiis.  He  fought  on  the  side  of  li- 
berty at  the  battle  of  Philippi,  and,  seehig  the  day  lost, 
died  hy  his  own  liand.  For  Livia,  sec  the  Geneaogli- 
cal  Table,  No.  6(5. 

(()  lie  was  also,  as  well  as  his  wife,  of  the  Claudian 
family.  He  appeared  in  arms  against  Octuvius  (after- 
ivards  Augustus),  on  the  side  of  Lucius  Antonius,  whom 
lie  considered  as  the  last  asscrlor  of  public  liberty.  An- 
tonius was  besieged  at  Pcrusia  by  Augustus,  A.  U.  C. 
7'J4,  and,  after  holding  out  till  the  garrison  was  reduced 
by  ftunine,  Avas  obliged  to  capitulate.  Tiberius  Nero 
endeavoured  to  collect  the  scattered  remains  of  the  re- 
publican party  ;  but,  hiscflbrts  proving  fruitless,  hcwas 
obliged  to  tly  to  Sextus  l*ompeius,  tlien  in  possession  of 
Sicily.  His  wife  Livia  attended  liim  in  his  fliijht,  beinir 
at  that  time  big  with  child ;  and  bearing  in  her  arms 
her  infant  son  Tiberius,  who  was  about  two  years  old. 
Velleius  Paterculus,  lib.  ii.  s.  75.  The  father  after- 
wards made  his  peace  with  Augustus,  and  returned  to 
Rome  A.  U.  C.  71G:  and  liis  wife  Livia,  yielding  to  the 
emperor's  embraces,  sealed  his  pardon.  Livia  was  then 
six  montlis  gone  with  child.  Augustus,  before  he  married 
her,  was  obliged  to  obtain  a  dispensation  from  the  Pon- 
tifical college.  In  three  months  afterwards  Livia  was 
delivered  of  her  second  son,  Drusus.  See  the  Genealo- 
gical Table,  No*  79.  Caligul;*,  afterwards  emperor, 
And  great*grandson  of  Livia,  used  to  say  of  her,  that 
she  Was  another  Ulysses  in  pctiicoals.  lAziam  Augtis- 
tarn,  proaxiain  suam^  iihtitidcm  Ur>YssEM  Stoj.atum 
fyppdluiis,    Suctoniusj  in  Calig.  s.  2J. 


FIFTH   BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.    '    469 

(rf)  Gcrmaniciis,  the  son  of  Driisus,  -svas  i^niiuUou  to 
liivia  :  and  Agrippiua,  liis  wifr,  was  ja:ranil-tlanglitocto 
Augustus.  See  tlie  Genealogical  Table,  No.  SI  uud 
No.  51. 

(c)  Tiberius,  from  the  day  of  his  accession  to  tlu-  im- 
perial dignity,  considered  hi^  mother  as  a  -woman  of  a 
politic  and  artificial  character,  prond,  fierce,  and  over- 
bearing ;  in  appearance,  ])lotting  to  aggrandize  her  son; 
in  secret,  wishing  for  nothing  so  much  as  to  gratity  lier 
own  ambition.  She  lived  three  years  after  Tiberius  re- 
tired to  the  i'de  of<3aprea,  and,  during  that  lime,  never 
had  more  than  one  short  intervicAV.  In  lier  last  ilhiess 
Tiberius  did  not  condescend  to  visit  lier.  He  signified 
an  inclination  to  attend  the  funeral  ceremony  •,  but  ha 
promihcd  only  to  deceive,  and  delayed  so  long,  that  the 
body  was  in  a  state  of  putrefaction  before  it  was  commit- 
ted to  the  flames.     Suet,  in  Tib.  s.  51. 

■Scclio/i  If. 

(a)  The  apollieosis  of  Li  via  is  still  to  be  seen  on  an- 
cient medals ;  but  we  learn  from  Suetonius,  that  divine 
honours  were  granted  by  tlie  emperor  Clniidius,  and  the 
medals  were  most  probably  struck  ihiiing  his  reign. 
See  Suet,  in  Claud,  s.  xi. 

Scclinn  III, 

(a)  Cotta  Messnlinns  was  the  son  of  Messala  Cor? 
vlnus,  the  famous  orator,  wlio  was  higlily  commended 
by  Quintilian.  See  tlie  Dialogue  conc(  ruing  Orator}-, 
s.  xii.  note  (c).  The  sen  iidierited  a  portion  of  his  fa- 
ther's eloquence,  but  none  of  iiis  virtues.  He  Is  again 
mentioned  by  'i'acifus  as  the  promoter  of  o])prcssioi^ 
aaJ  crueltv,    Anna.U,  book  vi.  s.  5.    He  is  recorded  !iv 


iTO  KOTES  OK   THE 

niny  ihc  clilor  as  a  voluptuous  epicurej  nncl  a  great 
proficient  in  the  art  of  caokerj.  Jle  invented  a  new 
ragout^  composed  of  the  feet  of  geese  and  ihc  combs  of 
cocks.  I  relate  this  fact,  says  Pliny,  to  the  end  that 
Ibe  men,  ulio  profess  to  study  the  pleasures  of  the  table, 
may  enjoy  ail  ihe  praise  due  to  their  kitchens.  Tribuetur 
€>nm  a  me  citU)us  aijusque  palma  cum  fide.  Pliny,  lib.  x. 
s.  22.  Some  of  Ovid's  Epistles,  written  in  Lis  exile,  are 
acWrcssed  t»3Icssaliua. 

Secfio)}  IV. 

(a)  Suetonius  assures  us,  that  Julius  Cicsar  ordcrec! 
acts  of  the  senate,  as  well  iis  of  (he  p eo[)le,  to  be  daily 
ommitted  to  ^^riting,  and  published,  Aviiich  had  never 
hccn  done  before  Iris  tiim^.  Sec  in  Jul.  Cajs.  s.  20. 
Augustus,  a  more  timid,  and,  by  c;)nsequence,  a  darker 
politician,  o^idcrcd  tl>e  prrrceedings  af  the  senate  to  he 
kept  secret.  Suet,  in  Aag,  s.  36.  Til)crius  followed  the 
same  Tide,  but,  as  it  seems,  had  the  caution  to  appoint 
a  senator  to  execute  the  oilice.  Dio  says,  that  he  also 
directed  what  should  be  inserted  or  omift<'d.  These  re- 
cords were,  in  tlu*  ma<lern  }>l>rase,  the  Jolrxaj.s  op 
THE  Horsn.  In  ihc  early  period  of  the  commonAvealth, 
lu'forcijhe  use  of  letters  was  genenilly  known,  the  years 
were -registered  by  a  number  of  naiJs  driven  into  the 
gate  of  the  temple  of  Jupiler.  I/ivy,  lit),  vii.s.  3.  But 
f  ven  in  that  mdc  age,  the  chief  pontitf  committed  to 
^riling  the  transactions  of  each  3rar,  and  ]ie\)t  the  re- 
cord at  his  Iiouse,  for  the  inspection  of  the  people. 
Pontifex  maximfis  res  omnes  sin^iilonim  nnnorum  maii- 
dabat  Uteris^  ejj'erebatque  in  Allium,  it  proponebat 
tabulam  domi,  polestas  u(  essct  populo  cognosceudi. 
C.'icero;  Dc  Orat.  lib.  ii.  s.  12,     This  mode  of  keeping 


FIFTH  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.       471 

the  records  continued  in  use  till  the  death  of  Miicius 
Sca3Vola,  A.  U.  C.  672.  After  that  time,  the  motions  in 
the  senate,  the  debates,  and  resolutions  of  the  fathers, 
occasioned  a  multiplicity  of  business,  and,  of  course,  the 
ancient  simple  form  was  found  insufficient.  Under  the 
emperors,  four  different  records  grew  into  use  :  namely, 
the  acts  of  the  prince  ;  secondly,  the  proceedings  of  the 
senate;  thirdly,  the  public  transactions  of  the  people; 
and  fourthlj',  the  games,  spectacles,  births,  marriages, 
deaths,  and  daily  occurrences  of  the  city,  called  the 
DiiiRNA.  The  last  were  sent  into  the  provinces,  and 
were  there  received  as  the  Roman  Gazette. 


SUPPLEMENT  (^0- 

TO  the  great  loss  of  the  literary  world,  the  evil  fate 
that  attended  the  works  of  Tacitus  is  felt  in  this  place, 
at  a  point  of  time  when  an  important  scene  is  to  be 
opened ;  a  scene  in  which  Tiberius  and  Sejanus  were 
the  chief  actors,  each  with  the  darkest  policy  contriving 
the  other's  ruin.  The  art  of  gradually  unfolding  the 
characters  of  men,  in  a  course  of  action,  was  t!ie  talent 
of  Tacitus,  beyond  any  historian  of  antiquity;  but  the 
rest  of  the  transactions  of  the  present  year  of  Rome  782, 
all  of  783,  and  the  greatest  part  of  784,  have  perished 
in  the  confusion  of  barbarous  times.  It  is  to  be  lamented, 
that  Sejanus  has  been  snatched  away  from  Tacitus,  that 
is,  from  the  hand  of  justice.  The  chasm  can  never  be 
filled  up  :  for  what  modern  writer  can  hope  to  rival  the 
energy  of  Tacitus  ?   All  that  remains,  is  to  collcet  the 


472  NOTES  ON  THE 

facts  from  the  most  authentic  historians,  and  relate  theui 
here  in  a  continued  scries,  ratliji^r  than  give  the  reader 
the  trouble  of  finding  them  Avliere  they  lie  scattered  in 
various  auth.ors. 

Section  2. 

(r/)  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  51. 

(h)  The  name  of  this  Roman  knight  is  not  mentioned 
by  Suetonius,  who  relates  the  fact,  in  Tib.  s.  51. 

(r)  Seneca  gives  a  picture  of  this  dreadful  period. 

.Ercipiehatur  ebriorum   sermo ;   simplicilas  jocantium. 

*  Nihil  erat  tittimi:  omnis  scsviendi  placebaf  occQsio  ;  nee 

jam  renrnm  e.rspectahatur  evefUiis,  cum  esset  itnus.     Dp 

Bcneficiis,  lib.  iii.  cap.  26. 

Section  3. 
(a)  For  this  profound  tranquillity  in  all  parts  of  the 
Roman  empire,  see  Vellcius  Paterculus,  lib.  ii.  s.  126. 

Section  4. 

(a)  The  consuls  for  the  year  783  were  higli  in  fivour 
with  Tiberius,  and,  accordingly,  were  afterwards  mar- 
ried to  two  daughters  ofGernianicus  ;  Drusilla,  to  Gus- 
sius  Longinus  ;  Julia,  to  Vinicius.  Seeboolc  vi.  s.  15. 
See  also  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  ^35^  97;nndi>9. 

(//)  Tiberius  had  been,  at  this  time,  above  three yearg 
in  his  recess  at  the  ihlc  of  Caprea,  indulging  liiniself  in 
every  vice,  and  planning  deeds  of  cruelty  and  liorror  ; 
and  yet  Vclleius  asks  Vinjcius  the  consul,  to  whom  he 
dedicates  his  work,  what  Til)erius  had  done  to  merit  the 
worst  agony  of  mind,  and  to  be  made  miserable  by  his 
dunght<'r-in-Iaw  and  his  grandson?  Quautis  hoc  tvioi- 
niforr,    M.    Vinici,  doJoribus    hiceravit  uniinum    ejus  ?■ 


FIFTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        47S 

Quamdiu  abstruso,  quod  miserrvmivi  e^t.,  pectus  rjm 
J'c'gravit  incendio,  qnod  ex  nuru<,  quod  ex  tiepote  dolere^ 
^indigiiari,  erubesceris  coactu^  est  ?  Lit),  ii.  s.  130. 

Section  5.  ^- 

« 

{n)  Sadonius,  in  Tib.  s.  64. 

(b)  For  IIcrculai)euiu,  see  the  Geographical  Table. 
Seneca  sajsi,  Caligula  razed  the  castle  to  the  ground, 
that  no  vestige  might  remain  of  the  place,  where  his 
mother  suffered  so  much  barbarity,  Dc  Ira,  lib.  iii, 
s.  32. 

(c)  This  fact  js  related  by  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  53. 

(d)  Suetonius,  s.  oo. 

(f)  For  instances  of  this  savage  cruelly,  sec  in  this 
Supplement,  s.  41. 

(f)  See  the  account  qf  Agrippina's  (death,  book  vi. 
s.  23. 

(g-)  For  Pontia,  see  the  Geographical  Tabic.     Nero 

was  put  to  dci^th  on  that  isjaud  by  order  pf  Tiberius. 

Suet.  s.  54. 

Section  6, 

(a)  Tliis  was  Otho,  afterwards  emperor.  Sqetonius 
says,  heliad  a  daughter,  whom  he  contracted  to  Drusus, 
son  of  Germanicus,  before  she  >vas  of  ag(r  to  marry. 
Lffe  of  Otho,  s.  1. 

(6)  For  her  flagitious  life,  and  an  account  of  licr 
death,  see  book  yi.  s.  40.     Sec  the  Genealogical  Table, 

I^o,  84, 

Section  7. 

(a)  Dio  sa^'s  that  the  consul  became  the  agent  of  Se- 
janus. 

(b)  Suctonias  in  Tib.  s.  54. 
(V )  See  book  vi.  s.  23  and  24. 


474  NOTES  ON  THE 

Seel  ion  8* 

(a)  SiK-tonins  says,  it  was  more  by  cunnin£f  and  sly 
manaijcment,  than  bv  l>is  imperial  authority,  that  h§ 
vas  able  to  cut  off  S(;janus*     In  Tib.  s.  63. 

(/;)  These  Memoirs  were  extant  in  Tacitus's  time, 
Suetonius  (in  Tib.  s.  61)  refers  to  tlicm  for  the  fact  here 
asserted  ;  and  in  the  Life  of  Domitian,  that  emperor,  he 
says,  laid  aside  the  study  of  the  liberal  sciences,  and  read 
nothiniif  but  tlie  commentaries  of  Tiberius.  In  Domit. 
f  *  20.  The  Memoirs  written  by  Tiberius,  were,  probably, 
the  Manual  of  Tyranny. 

Section  9. 

(a)  After  all  that  Tacitus  has  hitherto  disclosed  of  the 
character  of  Tiberius,  one  cannot  read,  without  astonish- 
ment, the  flattering  account  given  by  Vellcius  Pater- 
culus(lib.  ii.  s.  h26  and  127)  of  the  justice,  equity,  mo- 
deration, and  every  virtue,  which,  according  to  that 
{ivcophant  historian,  distinguished  the  reign  of  Tiberius. 
The  picture  of  a  politic,  dark,  and  cruel  tyrant,  is  drawn 
in  gracious  colotirs.  Pliny's  Panegyric  of  Trajan  is  not 
more  highly  tiuished. 

Seclion  10. 

(n)  The  veneration  paid  to  Sejanus  is  described  at 
length  by  Dio,  lib.  Iviii. 

Sect  ion  11. 

(a)  This  writer's  work  is  dignified  Avith  the  title  of  a 
Roman  History  ;  but  it  is  well  observed  by  Lipsius  and 
Vossius,  that  it  deserves  no  such  title,  being,  in  truth, 
nothing  more  than  a  collection  of  the  principal  events, 
that  happened  in  the  world,  from  the  Trojan  war  down 
to  the  xvith  of  Tiberius,  A.  U.  G.  78?.     It  is  not,  says 


FIFTH   BOOK   OF  THE  ANNALS.        475 

J-i{)siii.s,  a  compendium  or  ;i1)ridgmcnt  of  history, 
Ihoiigh  it  must  l)e  allowed  that  tlie  narrative  proceeds  in 
chronola"Mcal  order.  It  contains  an  account  of  eminent 
ni(M),  and  characters  well  delineated;  but  the  whole  of 
ihe  /irsl  book  is  a  niiscellaneous  review  of  ancient  times 
and  foreign  nations.  The  second  book  is  a  narrative  of 
Roman  affairs,  written  will)  ease  and  elegance,  but,  when 
it  treats  of  the  Civssars,  in  a  sljlc  of  adulation,  in  the 
conclusioTj.  the  Isisforian  composes  a  ferveiit  prayer, 
■wliich  must  astonish  all  who  are  conversaiit  in  the  his- 
tory of  Tiberius.  lie  throws  himself  on  his  knees,  and 
invokes  the  projection  of  Jupiter  and  Mors,  and  all  the 
gods,  to  prolong  ihe  valtuible  life  of  Tiberiu^,  and  late, 
very  late,  to  give  tu  the  Roman  people  a  line  of  princes 
worthy  of  the  succession  to  so  great  a  prince.  CuslodUcy 
scrvafc,  protegite  hunc  statum,  hanc  pacem;  elque  funclo 
k)//s;issimd  stalioue  mortali  destinate  successores  quain 
scrissiuios,  Sec.     See  Yell.  PatercuL  in  the  conclusion. 

Section  12. 

(a)  .Asliiins  Callus,  son  of  the  famous  Asinius  Pollio, 
has  been  already  mentioned,  Annals,  book  i.  s.  Ix?. 

Sec.  1071  13. 
(a)  For  more  of  Giet ulieus,  sec  book  vi.  s.  SO. 

Secfioti  14. 

(a)  Crevier,  in  his  History  of  the  Roman  Emperors, 
says,  Asinius  was  deputed  on  some  business,  which 
c;:jinot  now  Fje  known  ;  but  the  fact,  as  here  stated,  is 
cor.iirn'.cd  by  Dio,  lib.  58. 

(b)  Syriacus  is  mentioned  by  Seneca  as  an  elegant 
oiator,  multa  diserte  dixit.  See  Controversioe,  lib.  i'. 
s  9.  1 


476  NOTES  ON   TJIE 

Seciior?  15. 

(fir)  This  mafcb  was  proposed  l)v  Scjamis,  book  iv^ 
s.  S9,  and  rejected  by  Tiberius,  s.  40.  That  be  af(er- 
wards  consented  to  give  Livia  in  marriage  to  Sejunus, 
see  book  vi.  s.  8,  where  Scjanus  is  expressly  called,  the 
son-in-law  of  the  emperor. 

Section  18. 

(o)  In  this  situation  of  things,  Dio  say*,  Sejaniis  was 
emperor  of  Rome ;  and  Tiberius,  the  lord  of  an  island. 

Seel  ion  10. 

(a)  L.  Piso  was  pra^ect  of  the  city,  and,  in  that  of- 
fice, discharged  his  duly  with  great  skill,  and  equal  in- 
tegrit}'.    Velleius  Piiterculus  says,  no  man  was  more  Ibnd 
of  indolence,  and  yet  no  man  transacted  business  Avitii 
such  ability.      F?>  qiiemqumn  reperiri  posse,  qui  avt 
otiinn  volifiius  diligr/t,  aid  faeilius  sujjieial  negotio.    Lib. 
ii.  s.  98.     Seneca  tells  us,  that  he  was  always  drunk, 
and  never  out  of  bed  before  ten  in  tlic  forenoon  ;  and  yet 
he  contrived  to  execute  his  commission  with  uncommon 
diligence.     He  was  the  confidential  maficistrate  of  Au- 
gustus;  and  Tiberius,  when  he  retreated  into  Camj)ania, 
tnisted  all  his  most  secret  directions  to  the  care  of  Piso. 
Lucius  Piso,  urhis  etfsfos,  chriux,  ex  quo  seniel  fuctus 
fitii'     ISIajorem  partem  voctis  in  eonxixio  exigebat ;  uS' 
que  in  horam  scxtam  fere  iJorniiehat.     Ofpeium  tanioi 
suum,  quo  tuiela  urbis  contincbalur,  diligeutissime  adi/ii- 
jiistrercit.    Iluic  Divus  Auoustus  dcdit  secretu  mandalcu 
ct  Tiberius,  profuiseens  in  Cauipauiam,  cum  muftn  in 
vrhe  ct  suspeeta  t'eUnquerel,  el  iuiisri.     Seneca,  epist. 
S3.     For  an  account  of  Piso's  death,  at  fourscore  years 
of  age,  sec  Annals,  book  vi.  s.  10. 


FIFTH  BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.        477 

Section  20. 

(^0  The  fate  of  this  eminent  man,  and  Piisca  his  wife, 
is  related  by  Dio,  lib.  j8. 

Scctioti  21. 

(a)  This  decree  of  the  senate  is  mentioned  by  Dio, 

lib.  Iviii. 

Section  23. 

(a)  Dmlnc^  the  time  of  the  republic,  the  consular  of- 
fice lasted  for  the  year.  Tht'  emperors  changed  this 
rule.  In  order  (o  gratify  the  ambition  of  tlnur  fa- 
vourites, they  appointed  a  new  succession  at  diiilacut 
times  in  Ihe  year  ;  but  the  names  of  such  consuls  do  not 
appear  in  the  Fasti  Consulares. 

Section  24. 

(a)  See  Suetonius,  in  Calig.  s.  10. 

(b)  Sue{onius  has  recorded  what  Antonia,  tlie  mother 
of  Claudius,  said  of  her  son.  Mater  Antonia  porteyitum 
eitm  honiinis  diet  ah  at ;  nee  absolution  a  naturd^  sed  tan- 
turn  inchoatuni;  ac  si  quern  soeordice  argueret,  stultiorem 
aiehatfiUo  suo  CUutdio.     Sueton.  in  Claud,  s.  3. 

Section  23- 
(a)  See  Dio,  book  Iviii. 

Section  26. 

(a)  The  particulars  of  this  plot,  and  the  delcGtion  of 
it  by  Antoniu  (for  whom  see  the  Genealogical  Table^ 
No.  32),  are  related  by  Josephus. 

Section  27. 

(a)  Satrius  Secundus  wa  the  accuser  of  Crcmutlus 
Cordus.     Annals,  iv.  s.  34-     Seneca,  speaking  of  that 


t. 


478  NOTES- ON  THE 

transaction,  DeConsolationcad  Marciain,  says,  Scjann?, 
meaning  to  enrich  his'  creafures^  gave  Cordus,  licr  fa- 
ther, as  a  largess  to  Satrius  Socundus.  Sejamis  patrem 
tnum  clienti  suo  SrJrio  Secundo  congiarium  deilit.  See 
Annals,  book  vi.  s.  47,  Avhere  Satrius  is  mentioned  as 
the  informer  against  Sejanns. 

(h)  Josephus,  wlio  was  well  informed  in  every  thing 
that  related  to  Tiberius,  confirms  what  is  here  said.  Ac- 
cording to  him,  Antonia  employed  Ca?nis,  who  was  af- 
terwards the  favourite  mistress  of  Vespasian,  to  write 
the  letters  to  Tiberius ;  and  Pallas,  Avho  became  minister 
of  state  under  Claudius,  carried  the  dispatches  to  the 
isle  of  Caprea. 

Section  !2S. 

(fir)  See  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  Od. 
(b)  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  65. 

Section  29. 

(a)  The  particulars  of  the  fall  of  Sejanns,  and  the 
conduct  of  Macro,  the  principal  actor  in  that  business, 
are  related  at  large  by  Dio,  lib.  Iviii. 

Section  3 1 . 

(a)  The  letter  is  no  where  set  forth,  but  the  substance 
is  reported  by  Dio.  Juvenal  says,  no  direct  charge  was 
exhibited  against  Sejanus;  no  facts  were  stated;  no 
witness  was  produced.  A  pompous  letter  arrived  from 
Caprea,  and  that  was  sufficient : 

Sed  quo  cecidit  sub  crimine  ?  quisnam 
Delator?  quibus  indiciis?  quo  teste  probavit ? 
^il  horum  :  verbosa  et  grandis  epistola  venit 

A  Capreis, 

JcvENAL,  sat.  x.  ver.  69. 


FIFTH   BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.        479 

(h)  Tlic  iKimcs  of  these  two  senators  are  no  where 
mentioned. 

Sectio77  33. 

(a)  The  behaviour  of  the  populace  is  well  described 
Isy  Juvenal : 

Descend unt  statuce,  restemque  scquuntur. 
Ipsas  deinde  rotas  bigurum  impacta  securis 
Casdit,  et  immeritis  franguntur  crura  caballis. 
Jam  stridunt  ii^nes;  jam  follibus  atque  caminis 
Ardet  adoratum  populo  caput,  et  crepat  ii)gens 
Sejanus  :  deinde  ex  facie  toto  orbe  secunda 
Fiunt  urceoli,  pelrcs,  sartago,  patclUe. 

l5>at.  X.  ver.  58. 

(b)  Seneca  differs  from  this  account.  lie  savp,  Se- 
janus was  torn  in  pieces  by  the  populace,  and  nothing 
remained  for  the  executioner  to  throw  into  the  river. 

Section  34. 

(a)  Juvenal  has  described  the  humours  of  the  mob: 
they  sav.'  Sejanus  ruined,  and  they  hated  him.  If  for- 
tune had  favoured  his  cause,  they  would  liave  been 
ready  to  hail  their  new  emperor  ;>i(li  acclamations  of 

joy- 

Sed  quid 

Turb:i  Remi  ?  scquitur  fortunara,  ut  semjx'r,  et  odit 
Damnatos  :  idem  populus,  si  Nurscia  Tusco 
Favisset,  si  oppressa  foret  seciira  senccfus 
Principis,  liac  ipsa  Scjanum  diccrel  hora 
Augustum. 

Sat.  X.  ver.  72. 


480  NOTES  ON  THE 

Section  35. 

(a)  Dio  gives  an  account  of  the  honours  voted  on  this 
occasion. 

Section  36. 

(a)  The  twelve  viUas,  which  Tiberius  occupied  in. 
the  isle  of  Caprea,  have  been  already  mentioned,  book 
iv.  s.  67. 

Sccf/o/t  37. 

(a)  ^ejanus  had  repudiated  his  -wife  some  time  before. 
Sec  book  iv.  s.  3  ;  and  see  ibidem y  s.  11. 

Sectio?i  38* 

(a)  For  Eudcmus  and  Ljgdus,  see  book  iv.  s.  tl, 
(i)  Dio  relates  the  fact.     For  Antonio,  see  this  Sup- 
plement, s.  27 ;  and  see  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  «2. 

Section  39. 

(a)  The  name  of  the  preceptor  was  Theodorus  of 
Gadara.     Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  57. 

(i»)  The  man,  who,  amidst  the  misfortunes  of  his  fa- 
mily, zcanted  the  natural  touch,  might  reason  in  this 
manner;  but  Priam  tliought  otherwise.  It  was  said  of 
him,  that  all  he  gained  by  a  long  life,  was,  that  he  wept 
oftener  than  his  son  Troilus.  The  sentiment  of  Tiberius 
is  reported  by  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  62. 

(O  Suetonius,  in  Calig.  s.  11. 

Seciioji  43. 

(a)  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  62. 

(6)  Machiavel  has  not  been  able  to  devise  a  plan  of 
more  profound  and  barbarous  policy.     By  consulting 


JPIFTII  BOOK  OP  THE  ANNALS.       481 

tbeir  opinion,  he  made  tbem  believe  that  his  friendship 
was  sincere,  because  it  was  interest;  by  keeping  near  his 
person,  he  cut  them  off  at  his  will  and  pleasure  ;  and  by 
setting  them  at  variance  among  themselves,  he  made 
them  the  authors  of  their  own  destruction.  See  Sueto- 
nius, in  Tib.  s.  55. 

Section  4L 

(a)  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  62. 

(h)  The  story  is  told  by  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  57*. 

(c)  Suetonius,  s.  60. 

(d)  Suetonius,  s.  CI. 

Section  42. 

(a)  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  56. 

(b)  Suetonius,  ibidem. 

(c)  This  account  of  malleable  glass,  and  the  fate  of 
the  manufacturer,  are  told  by  Dio,  lib.  Ivii.  Pliny  re- 
lates the  same  story,  but  seems  to  doubt  thetrutii  of  if. 
Lib.  xxxvi.  s»  26»  Petronius,  whose  romance,  called 
Satyhicon,  is  a  disguised  and  pleasant  satire  on  the 
private  life  of  Claudius  and  Nero,  has  put  the  history  of 
this  transaction  into  the  mouth  of  Trinialcion,  a  ridicu- 
lous character,  >\ho  seems  to  be  introduced  to  enliven 
the  narrative,  and  divert  the  reader  by  his  blunders. 
"  Do  not,"  saj'sTrimalcion,  "  take  me  for  anlcNonA- 
^^  Mus  ;  I  know  the  origin  of  the  Corinthian  metal.  At 
*'  the  sacking  of  Troy,  Hannibal,  that  sly  freebooter; 
*'  having  gathered  into  a  heap  all  the  gold  and  silver 
<'  statues,  with  the  bronze  and  other  rarities,  caused 
'^'  them  to  be  melted  down  into  one  enormous  mass, 
"^  which  was  afterwards  shivered  to  fragments,  and  by 
'•  the  arti?;(s  converted  into  dishes,  plates,  and  statues* 


48iB  NOTES  c^^'  the 

"  That  is  your  Corinlliian  metal ;  neitlier  this,  nor  that ; 
*'  but  a  mixture  of  all."  Aflcr  this  pleasantry,  %\ehave 
the  anecdote  of  Tiberius  and  the  glass-nianutacturer, 
which,  whether  true  or  false,  is  told  with  an  air  of  ridi- 
cule, and,  consequently,  brought  into  disrepute. 

Section  VI. 

(a)  The  Supplement  being  bronglit  to  the  point, 
where  it  connects  with  the  original,  Tacitus  goes  on 
from  this  place  to  the  end  of  tlie  book.  The  reader  will 
observe  that  he  stopped  at  the  end  of  Section  v.  The 
intermediate  sections  are  marked  with  figures,  instead  of 
the  Roman  numeral  letters.  It  is  to  be  regretted,  tliat 
the  name  of  the  person,  who  Rpeaks  in  the  present 
section  with  such  dignity  of  sentiment,  cannot  be  traced 
in  any  historian  of  that  age.  The  character  of  the  man 
subsists,  and  will  always  claim  respect.  It  is  true,  that 
this  excellent  man  destroyed  himself;  but  suicide,  at 
that  time,  was  the  only  relief  from  cruelty  and  op- 
pression. See  what  Tacitus  says  on  this  subject.  An- 
nals, vi.  s.  29. 

Secdon  VII r. 

(fl)  P.  Vitellius  was  ;he  faithful  companion  of  Ger- 
manicus,  in  Germany  and  Asia.  He  afterwards  prose- 
cuted Piso  for  the  murder  of  his  friend ;  Annals,  iii. 
s.  10  and  13.  Suetonius  relates,  that  he  was  seized 
among  the  accomplices  of  Sejanus  ;  and  being  delivered 
to  the  custody  of  his  brother,  he  opened  his  veins,  but, 
by  the  persuasion  of  his  friends,  suffered  the  wound  to 
be  bound  up.  He  died  soon  after  of  a  broken  heart. 
Sueton.  in  Vitellio,  s.  2.  He  was  uncle  to  Vitellius,  the 
emperor.  See  Velleius  Pa'erculus,  lib.  ii.  Pomjionius 
Secundus  was  of  consular  rank.     Quintilian  praises  his 


FIFTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        483 

dramatic  sjcnius.      See  llic  Dialogue  concerning  Ora- 
tory, s.  xiii.  note  (r). 

Section  IX. 

(a)  The  ori^^inal  calls  it  the  triumviral  punishment, 
because  (as  nppears  in  the  Digest  i.  tit.  ii.  s.  30)  it  was 
the  duty  of  (lie  triumvir  to  see  execution  done  on  such 
as  were  condemned  to  die.  The  men,  who  felt  no  com- 
pnssion  for  an  innocent  child,  thought  it  riglit  to  be 
scrupulous  about  forms,  in  order  to  commit  a  legal 
murder.  Snetonius  relates  the  fact  as  slated  by  Tacitus. 
In  Tib.  s.  61. 

Section  X. 

(o)  Dio  says,  that  the  impostor  was  taken,  and  sent 
a  prisoner  to  Tiberius.  But  Dio  is  at  times  either  too 
credulous,  or  too  much  pleased  with  his  own  invention. 

Section  XL 

(a)  Trio  has  been  mentioned,  Annals,  ii.  s.  28,  as  a 
practised  informer,  a  man  of  dangerous  talents,  and  an 
infamous  character.  Celehrc  inter  accusatorts  Trionis 
ingenium  end,  a'cidumqiic  famot  make. 


ii2 


{    485    ) 


NOTES 

OS 

THE    SIXTH    BOOK 

OF 

THE  ANNALS,  ' 

/ 

Section  I. 

(a)  'T^O^riTIUS,  commonly  called  Domitius  JEno- 
Ji ^  barhiis,  is  the  person  \Yhom  v,c  have  seen  mar- 
ried to  AiTiippiiia,  the  daughter  of  Gerinanicus.  An- 
nals, book  iv.  s.  75.  See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No. 
93.  Suetonius  draws  his  character  in  the  blackest  co- 
lours ;  and  adds,  that  he  was  so  sensible  of  his  own  de- 
pravity, as  to  say,  when  he  was  told  of  Nero's  birth, 
*'  Nothing  can  spring  from  Agrippina  and  myself  but 
a  monster  of  vice,  and  scourge  of  human  kind."  When 
Tiberius  died,  he  was  contined  in  prison,  charged,  among 
other  crimes,  with  an  incestuous  commerce  with  Lepida, 
his  sister.  lie  Avas  saved  by  the  change  of  the  times, 
and  not  long  after  died  of  a  dropsy  at  tlie  town  of  Pyrgi. 
Suetonius  in  Nero,  s.  5  and  6.  The  other  consul,  Ca- 
millus  Scril)onianns,  is  the  same  Avho  ten  years  after,  in 
the  reign  of  Claudius,  was  proclaimed  emperor  by  the 
legions  in  Dalmatia,  and  in  a  few  days  murdered  by  the 
soldiers. 

(/;)  Suctoiiius  explains  the  word  Spintri.e,  and  adds 


486  NOTES  ON  THE 

that  tliore  were  cells  in  woods  and  groves,  furnished  with 
lascivious  pictureis  and  statues,  whence  the  word  Sellaril^ 
la  Tib.  s.  A3. 

Scclio7i  II. 

(a)  This  isLivia,  who  conspired  with  Sejanus  against 
Ihe  lifr  of  I>riisus,  her  husbimd  ;  and  suffered  for  that 
crime  in  the  manner  already  mentiojied.  See  book  v, 
in  the  SuppleTcnt,  s.  38, 

(/;)  It  will  not  be  amiss  to  repeat,  that  JErariuDi  was 
the  public  treasury,  and  Fiscus  the  private  treasury  of 
the  prince. 

(r)  Suetonius,  in  Tlj).  s.  65. 

(d)  If  Tiberius  had  seriously  intended  to  enter  the 
senate-house,  he  was  a  better  politician  than  to  be  the 
dupe  of  a  pi :)n  proposed  by  Trogonius  G  dins.  None 
were  admitted  into  the  senate  but  the  fathers,  and  those 
to  whom  they  occasionally  give  audience,  or  who  wore 
cited  to  their  bar.  If  Tiberius  was  in  fear  of  the  sena- 
tors, he  knew  better  than  to  put  arms  in  their  hands. 
He  would  have  desired  to  cater  that  asiciubly  with  a 
picked  number  of  the  prcetorian  guards. 

Section  III, 

(«)  Junius  Gallic  was  the  brollier  of  Seneca.  See 
A-umls,  XV.  s.  73. 

(b)  Uoscius  Otho,  tribune  of  the  people,  was  the  au- 
thor of  a  law,  called  J. ex  Rosvia,  A.  U.  C.  685;  by 
which  fourteen  rows  in  the  theatre,  next  to  the  patrici.ui 
order,  ^\cre  assigned  to  the  Roman  knights,  with  an  ex- 
press provision,  that  no  tVeedman,  nor  even  the  son  of 

'  a  freedman,  should  be  admitted  into  the  equestrian  or- 
^er.     Horace  describes  a  man,  \^ho  was  gvown  sudt 


SIXTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        487 

dcnlj  rich,  taking  his  seat  in  those  rows  of  tlic  theatre, 
in  contempt  of  Otho  and  his  law  ; 

Sedibusque  mao^nus  in  primis  cqucs, 
Othonc  contcmpto,  sedef. 

Epod.  iv. 

In  the  time  of  Anii^ustus  this  law  was  falling  into  disuse; 
but  the  subsequent  emperors,  in  order  to  give  a  distin- 
guished preference  to  the  freedmen  whom  they  enriched, 
revived  the  Lex  Roscia  in  all  its  force.  Hence  Juve- 
nal says,  het  the  man  who  is  not  worth  the  sum  by  law 
required,  rise  from  the  equestrian  cushion,  and  make 
fooni  for  pimps  and  the  sons  of  pimps  : 

■ Exeat,  inquit. 

Si  pudor  est,  et  de  pulvino  surgat  equestri, 
Cujus  res  legi  non  sufficit,  ct  sedeant  hie 
J.<cnoniim  pucri  quocumque  in  fornice  nati. 

Sat,  iii.  ver.  io3. 

Section  IV. 

(a)  See  book  v.  s   71. 

(b)  For  the  end  of  Pulcinius  Trio,  see  this  book,  s.  38. 

Section  V. 

(a)  Ciiius  Tie  ar,  more  known  by  Hie  name  of  Caligula. 
Brotier's  edition  h.is  C.  Ccesarem^  and  some  have  Caiani 
Cctsarem,  The  last  reading  is  adopted  in  this  transla- 
tiou.  Caligula  was  guilty  of  incest  with  his  sister, 
Drusilla,  whilst  he  was  under  age.    Suetonius,  in  Calig. 

(b)  The  original  says,  notenidialcm  cccnam,  because 
the  grief  of  the  Ronuiiis  for  the  loss  of  a  friend  lasted  ' 
Jiiiic  days,  and  thou  i;oncludcd  with  a  solemn  feast  in 


488  NOTES  ON  THE 

honour  of  the  dead.  Colta's  meaning  -was,  that  cclet 
bratino;  the  birth -day  of  an  old  woman  ready  to  sink 
into  her  grave,  was. nothing  different  from  a  72ovein-dialy 
or  mourning-festival.  In  the  fragments  of  Cyrus,  there 
is  a  fine  verse,  importing,  that  when  an  old  womnr\ 
lit  ugh' ,  death  grins  a  ghastly  smile.  Anus  cum  riddf 
morli  ddicias  facit. 

Section  VI. 

(a)  Suetonius  has  the  same  Ictler  in  the  very  words 
licre  reported.     Jn  Tib.  s.  67. 

(I)  Socrates,  here  prr)perly  called  the  Oracle  of  An- 
cient AVisdom,  snys,  in  Plato's  Republic,  "  A  tyrant 
is  the  worst  of  slaves.  AVere  his  heart  and  inward  sen^ 
timenis  laid  open  to  our  view,  we  should  see  him 
stretched  on  the  torture  of  the  mind,  distracted  by  his 
fears,  and  goadetl  by  the  pangs  of  guilt."  Tacitus  had 
his  eye  on  this  passage.  Possessed  of  the  supreme  power, 
Tiberius  lives  in  misery.  His  grief  is  heard  from  the 
solitude,  and  ihe  rocks  of  Caprea.  His  case  was  like 
that  of  Qulipus,  as  described  by  Slatius,  in  a  fine  pic-. 
ture^quc  line  :  SoiUt  dii's  animi^  scdcrtnnque  in  pidor^ 
flirce. 

Sedion  VII. 

(n)  Seneca  relates  a  curious  attempt  hy  an  infornirr 
at  a  convivial  meeting:  One  of  the  guests  wore  the 
image  of  Tiberius  on  his  ring.  His  slave,  seeing  his 
master  intoxicated,  took  the  ring  off  his  fifiger.  The 
informer,  in  some  time  after,  insisted  tluit  the  owner,  to 
mark  his  contempt  of  Tiberius,  was  sitting  upon  the 
figure  of  the  emperor.  Tor  this  offence  he  drew  up  an 
^r-cusation,  and  was  getting  it  attested  by  subscribin-j 


SIXTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        489 

■witnesses,  -when  the  slave  shewed  to  the  whole  com r any 
that  he  had  the  ring  in  his  hand  all  the  time,  Seneca 
asks,  Was  the  servant  a  slave  ?  and  was  the  informer  a 
bottle-companion  ?  Si  quis  hunc  serziim  vocat,  (t  ilium 
tonxi'cam  xocahit.     De  Boneficiis,  lib,  iii.  cap.  26. 

Section  X. 

(«)  The  passage  in  which  L.  Pi;>o  was  mentioned  hy 
TacituF,  is  lost  with  other  parts  of  ihe  iifih  book.  Si»e 
the  Supplement,  s.  19,  and  note  {a). 

Section  XI. 

(o)  Tie  is  mentioned  by  Livy  in  tlie  character  of  pre- 
fect of  the  city.  Imperium  in  urhe  Lucretio,  prffifectp 
urbis  jam  ante  ab  rege  instituto,  reliquit.    Lib.  i.  s.  j9. 

Section  XII, 

(«)  The  history  of  the  Sibylline  books,  as  much  of  it 
at  least  as  can  be  condensed  into  a  note,  is  as  follows  :  A 
woman,  supposed  to  be  the  Cnmaan  Sibyl,  presented  to 
Tarquin  the  Proud  three  books,  of  which^  according  to 
the  account  of  Pliny  \\\c  elder,  lib.  xiii.  cap.  JiJ,  tlireo 
were  burned  by  her  own  direction.    Other  auiliors,  sucli 
as  Dionysius  of  Haiicarnassus,  lib.   iv.  cvip.  62  ;  and 
Aulus  Gellius,  lib.  i.  cap.  10,  mention  nine  books,  six 
of  which,  they  say,  were  committed  to  the  flames,  and 
three  preserved  with  care.     Whatever  the  number  was, 
it  perished  in  tlio  conflagration  that  destroyed  the  Ca- 
pitol, not  during  the  social  war,  as  said  by  mistake  in 
the  original,  but  in  the  civil  war  between  Marius  and 
Sylla,  A.  U.  C.  67!.     Those  books  had  been  always 
considered   as  a  sirred   deposit,  containing  prophetic 
accounts  of  the   grandeur  of  Konie,  and  the  certain 
pcans  of  propitiating  the  gods  in  the  day  of  distress,  u? 


490  XOTES  ON  THE 

"when  j;Oi(rnfs  and  prodigies  gave  notice  of  some  irn* 
pendiiig  calamity.     Tarquin  committed  this  invaluable 
fre<i?nre  to  llie  care  of  h\n  officers  ap'  ointed  for  the 
purpose.     The  number,  A.  U.  C.  3S7,  was  increased  to 
ten.     Afier  ihe  fireof  thecapiloi,  when  tlie  political  and 
religious  oracle  of  the  stale  was  lost,  the  senate  ordered 
diligent  search  to  be  made  in  Italy,  Asia,  and  Africa, 
for  all  kinds  of  Sibylline  verses,  and  that  compilation 
yvas  given   in  charge  to   fifteen  oOiceis  called  QtnN- 
DECLMViRi.     They,  and  ihcy  onh',  were  to  have  access 
to  those  mysterious  books,  that  contained  the  fame  and 
fate  of  tiie  Romans;   famamquc  el  fain  nepotum :  but 
even  they  Mere  not  allowed  to  inspect  the  predictions 
•^vitliout  the  special  orders  of  the  senaie,    As  long  as  the 
pagan  supersUtion  lasted,  t{ie  Sibylline  books  continued 
to  be  ihc  political  creed  of  the  emperor.     In  the  reign  of 
llonorius,  Stilico,  the  ambitious  minister,  and  pretended 
convert  to  Christianity,  ordered  all  the  Si)iylline  books 
io  be  burnt.     Paganism  groaned  and  expired.     It  ap-^ 
pea  red  tliat  there  had  been  in  various  places  a  great 
number  of  Sibylline  Avomen,  whose  verses  were  obtruded 
on  tlie  world  by  a  pious  fraud  ;  but  the  Cumican  Sibyl, 
so  called  from  Cumcc,  a  town  on  the  coast  of  Campania, 
■was  (he  only  genuine  prophetess.     It  is  avcII  known  that 
Virgil,  not  understanding  what  was  foretold  of  the  birth 
of  Christ,  applied  the  whole  prediction  to  another  jMir- 
pose  in  his  fourth  eclogue,  ended  the  Pollio.     The 
name  of  Sib^i  was  componnded   of  <rios  iRolica   voce, 
pro  ©s->j,  Deus,  and  U\-n.  consUium.     See  the  Delj)hinL 
Vjrgil,  jil).  vi.  V.  oG  ;  and  see  the  fine  description  of  the 
Sibyl  in  her  pro;  hetic  ecstasy,  v.  46, 

{b)  The  sc;  ate  had  two  ways  of  coming  to  a  resolu- 
tion :    it  ihcre  was  no  debate,  the  house  decided  pev 


SIXTH   BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.       491 

jdicessionem.  Vv'licn  there  was  an  opposition,  the  fa« 
lliers  wore  called  upon  seriatim  for  their  opinions.  Sec 
^ulns  Gellius,  lib.  xiv.  cap.  7. 

(c)  Sec  to  the  same  eflect  Suetonius,  in  Aug.  s.  31. 

Section  XY. 

As  Gcrmanicns  Avas  adopted  bj  Tiberius,  Annals,  i, 
8.  S,  his  daui^h'ers  were,  consequently,  the  graud-chiU 
dren  of  Tiberius. 

Section  XVr. 

(a)  The  grievances  of  the  pe  pie,  labouring  under  the 
oppression  of  their  creditors,  occur  so  often  in  Livjr, 
that  it  is  needless  to  ciie  particuln-  instances.  The  law 
of  Julius  Cassar,  mentio;ied  in  this  passage,  is  explained 
by  Suetonius.  It  was  expected,  lie  sajs,  that  all  debts 
should  be  cancelled  ;  but  Ciesar  ordered,  tliat  all  debtors 
should  satisfy  their  creditors,  according  to  a  fair  estimate 
of  tlieir  estates,  at  the  rates  al  which  they  were  pur-, 
chased  before  the  commencement  of  the  civil  wars; 
deducting  from  t!ip  principal  the  interest  that  had  l)cc;i 
paid  ;  and  by  thase  means  about  a  fourth  part  of  tiiG 
^lebt  was  sunk.  Suetonius,  in  Jul.  Cass,  s.  42.  See  also 
Caesar  de  Bell.  Civ.  iii.  s.  i.  The  late  sir  William 
Bl  ickstone  says,  Many  good  a  ul  learned  men  perplexed 
themselves,  and  other  people,  by  raising  questions  about 
the  reward  for  the  use  of  money,  and  by  expressing 
iheir  doubts  about  the  legality  of  it  in  fow  covscienfia'. 
A  compensation  for  the  loan  of  money  is  generally  called 
interest^  by  those  who  thiidi  it  lawful  ;  and  nsurt/^  by 
those  who  thirds  otherwise;  for  the  enemies  \o  interest 
in  general  make  no  distinct  ion  between  that  and  i(surj/y 
^oldiijg  any  increase  of  money  to  be  indefejisibly  UbU-. 


492  NOTES  OX  THE 

rious.     The  arc^umcnts  in  support  of  that  opinion  are 

refuted  by  sir  'William  Blackstone,  who  proves  that  the 

taking  of  a  moderate  reward  for  the  use  of  money  is  not 

vnly  not  mahan  in  se,  but  highly  useful  to  society.    See 

his  Commentaries,  vol.  ii.  p.  454  to  457.     B»|>ticr  slates 

the  different  rates  of  interest  known  at  Rome,  at  diflerent 

times.     Some  of  them  were  usurious  on  account  of  their 

excess,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  following  table  : 

-  C  Semiunciarium,      -      Half  per  Coif. 

h cnus  i 

i  Unciariiim,      -      -      One  per  Cent, 

-Quadrans,        -      -      Three  per  Cent, 

Tricns,       -      -      -      Four  per  Cent,  , 

Quincunx,        -      -      Fhe  per  Cent,  ^ 

J  Semis,     -     .     -     .      Six  per  Cent. 

.  lies,         -     -     -    -      Eight  per  Cent. 

Deunx,   -     -     -     -      Eleven  per  Cent. 

Centcssima,       -     -      Tzceke  per  Cent. 

LCcntessima  Quaterna,  Fort/y-eight  per  Cent. 

Anatocismus,    -     -     -     -      Interest  upon  Interest. 

When  the  sum  for  the  use  of  money  is  excessive,  or 

what  is  now  deemed  usurious,  Tacitus  calls  it  reisura  ; 

and  so  the  word  is  used  by  Cicero.      Salamifiii  cum 

Homce  VERSu  R  AM  facere  leltenf,  non  poterant ;  quod  lex 

Gahinia  xetabaf.     Ad  Atlicum,  lib.  v.  epist.  21.     See 

an  Kssay  on  the  subject  of  Roman  Usury,  Memoirs  of 

the  Academy  of  Belles  Lettres,  vol.  xxviii.     See  alsQ 

Montesquieu,  Spirit  of  Laws,  book  xxii.  chap.  22, 

Section  XX. 
(a)  See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  87. 

Section  XXII. 
(a)  This  whole  passage  about  Fate  and  Chance  shcM's,  | 


.^IXTH  BOOK  OF  TH,E   ANNALS.        493 

lifter  all  the  philosophy  of  Plato  and  Cicero,  that 
iiotliino-  but  Revelation  could  disperse  the  mist,  in 
%vhich  the  best  understandings  were  involved.  Th« 
reasoning-  of  Tacitus  calls  to  mind  the  passage  in  Mil- 
ton : 

Others  apart  sat  on  a  hill  rctir'd 
In  thought  more  elevate,  and  reason'd  high 
Of  providence,  fore-knowledge,  will,  and  fatc# 
Fix'd  fate,  free-will,  fore-knowledge  absolute. 
And  found  no  end,  in  wand'ring  mazes  lost. 

Section  XXI IL 

(a)  Asinius  Callus  was  thrown  into  prison  three  years 
before.     See  book  v.  Supplement,  s.  14. 

(b)  Drusus,  the  son  of  German icus :  Genealogical 
Table,  No.  S3.  See  an  account  of  his  imprisonment  im 
the  lower  partof  tlie  palace,  book  v.  Supplement,  s.  7, 

Section  XXV. 
{a)  See  Annals,  book  v.  Supplement,  s.  5. 

Section  XXVI. 

(o)  Cocceius  Nervas  has  been  mentioned*  book  ir. 

s.  58. 

Section  XXVII. 

(a)  Julia,  llie  daughter  of  Drusus  and  Livia,  and 
grand-daughter  to  Tiberius.  Genealogical  Table,  No. 
74. 

(Z>)  The  name  of  this  person  was  Cossus  /Elius  Lamia. 
He  united  in  his  character  many  excellent  qualities,  but 
was  addicted  to  liquor,  as  we  learn  from  Seneca,  who 
^ys,  that  Tiberius  hayin*j  experienced  the  good  efleeti; 


494  KOTES  ON  THE 

ofPis»*s  administration,  Aviiich  succeeded  notwitlistand- 
ing  his  love  of  liquor,  see  book  v.  Supplement,  s.  19, 
and  note  (a),  appointed  Cossus  to  the  office  of  pra?fcct 
of  the  city  ;  u  man  of  wisdom  and  moderation,  but  fond 
of  wine,  and  apt  to  drink  deep,  Cossum  fecit  urhis 
prcefectum,  tirum  gravem,  inoderahtm,  scd  mersum  sino 
ft  madentem;  puto  quia  bene  cesserat  Pisonis  ehrietas. 
Seneca,  epist.  83.  He  obtained  the  province  of  Syria, 
but  was  not  suffered  to  proceed  to  his  government. 
This,  we  are  told  by  Tacitus,  was  a  state  of  suspense  ha- 
bitual to  Tiberius.  Sec  book  i.  s.  80,  where  we  are  also 
told  why  the  detention  of  Lamia  added  to  his  digniiyo 
Tiberius  was  afraid  of  eminent  virtue :  Ex  optimis peri- 
culum. 

(r)  Pomponius  Flaccus  was  another  of  Tiberius's 
bottle-companions.  Suetonius  says,  that  the  name  of 
the  emperor  being,  Tiler  ins  Claudius  Nero,  he  was 
nicknamed  Biberius  Caldius  Mrro  ;  and  after  he 
came  to  the  empire,  he  passed  a  whole  night  and  two 
daj  s  in  a  carousing  party  with  Lucius  Piso  and  Pom- 
ponius Flaccus.     Sueton.  in  Tibcrio,  s.  42. 

(d)  Manius  Lepidus  has  been  mentioned,  book  i, 
5.  13  J  book  iv.  s.  ^0. 

Scctio7i  XXYIIL 

(rt)  Lucius  Vltellius,  the  new  consul,  was  the  father 
of  Vitellius,  Avho  was  afterwards  emperor.  See  more  of 
Lim,  s.  xxxii. 

(J))  The  accounts  given  by  the  ancients  of  this  won- 
derful bird,  if  collected  together,  would  swell  into  a 
volume.  Tacitus  was  aware  of  (he  decora^lions  of  fable; 
but  of  the  real  existence  of  !^uch  a  bird,  and  its  periodi- 
cal apx^earance  in  Egyp^  he  entertiiincd  no  kind  of 


I 


SIXTH   BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        4Q5 

doubt.  It  has  b(?cn  objected  by  some  critics,  that  he 
breaks  the  tliread  of  liis  narrative  for  the  sake  of  a 
trillinir  diijrcsion;  but  it  should  be  remembered,  that 
•what  is  now  known  to  I)e  a  Oibk",  was  formerly  received 
as  a  certain  trulh.  it  was,  therefore,  in  the  time  of 
Tacitus,  an  interesting^  description,  and  even  now  cu- 
riosity is  gratified  with  \\\C:  particulars  of  so  celeliratcd 
a  fiction.  La  Blctterie  observes,  that,  since  the  Chris- 
tian ccra,  many  learned  and  pious  writers  have  been 
carried  away  by  the  torrent,  and  embraced  the  popular 
opinion.  He  says  the  word  forv,?  sigiiifying  palma^ 
the  palm-tree,  as  well  as  the  bird  in  question,  TertulHan 
was  so  ing-enious  as  to  iim\  the  phenix  mentioned  in 
scripture.  The  Latin  translators  have  said,  Justus  aut 
pa/majlorebit;  lie  translates  it,  Justus  ut  phniix  f.orehit. 
Pliny  the  naturalist  seems  to  dwell  with  pleasure  on  the 
particulars  of  the  birth,  tiie  age,  the  death,  and  revival 
of  this  wonderful  bird.  He  says  that  a  pretended 
phenix  was  brought  to  Rome  from  .''Egypt,  A .  U.  C.  SOO, 
and  exhibited  as  a  public  spectacle  in  the  Forum  ;  but 
the  people  considered  it  as  an  imposition*  Quern  fahum 
esse  nemo  diibitdxil.  Pliny,  lib.  x.  s.  2.  Poinponius 
Mela  has  given  an  elegant  description  of  the  phenix. 
The  substance  of  what  lie  says,  is,  when  it  has  lived  five 
liundred  years,  it  expires  on  its  own  nest,  and,  being 
regenerated,  carries  the  bones  of  its  former  frame  to 
Ilelioj.olis,  the  city  of  the  Sun,  and  there,  on  an  altar 
covered  with  Arabian  spices,  perfc^rms  a  fragrant  funeral. 
Melii,  lib.  iii.  s.  9.  Mariana,  the  Spanish  hisiorian, 
wlu)  wrote  in  modern  times,  may  be  added  to  the 
Christian  writers  who  have  mcutioued  this  bird  with 
})ious  credulity.  lie  considers  tlie  re-appearance  of  the 
phenix,  towards  the  end  »f  Tiberius,  as  a  prafjnjsitis  *.^ 


496  NOTES  ON  THE 

the  resurrection,  because  it  revives  out  of  its  own  asties* 
See  his  History  of  Spain,  lib.  iv.  cap.  i.  See  also  sir 
jolin  Maudcvilie. 

Section  XXiX. 

(g)  Tacitus  «cems  here  to  make  llie  apology  of  sui- 
cide."   It  Avas  fear  of  (he  executioner  that  hurried  men 
on  self-destruction,     Prompfas  ejusmodi  mortcs  met  us 
carnificis  faciehat.     A  second  reason  was,  the  accused, 
tvho  died  before  sentence  of  condemnation  by  their  own 
tands>  saved  their  effects  for  their  relations,  and  were 
allowed   the  rites  of  sepulture.      The  idea   of  being 
strangled,  and  thrown  into  the  Tiber,  was  shocking  to 
the  imagination.     It  is  remarkable,  that  a  law  against 
suicide  was  unknown  to  the  Ro?Tians  in  every  period  of 
their  history*.     The  motives  for  embracing  a  voluntary 
death  continued,  as  stated  by  Tacitus,  till  tlie  reign  of 
Antoninus .     That  emperor,  A.  U.  C.  965,  of  the  Chris- 
tian aera  212,  confiscated  the  effects  of  all  wlio  ]Uit  an 
end  to  iheir  lives,  to  avoid  final  judgment.     In  other 
respects,   suicide   was    not    restrained;    it  was  rather 
countenanced.     If  no  prosecution  was  commenced,  the 
estate  of  the  person,  who  in  a  fit  of  insanity  destroyed 
himself,  pa;:sed  by  liis  will,  or  descended  to  his  heirs. 
So  far  was  right :  but  the  same  rule  was  extended  to 
those  wiio  were  weary  of  life,  and  for  that  reason  put 
an  end  to  their  days.    Dolore  aliqiio  corporis^  aid  tcedio 
vitce.     Sec  the  Code,  ix.  tit.  50.     De  bonis  eorum  qui 
mortem  sihi  conscivcnint.     It  was  a  maxim  of  the  stoic 
school,  that  tliere  was  nothing  better  in  human  life, 
than  the  poAver  of  ending  it.     JE'.i-  omnibus  bonisy  qucB 
Jiomini  trihuit   nalura,  nullum   melius   esse  fempestivd 
mo  lie ;  idque  in  e.d  oitimunij  quod  ilium  sibi  quisqus. 


SIXTH  BOOK  OF  THE  ANNALS.       497 

pixEstare  poterit.    Pliny,  lib.  xxviii.  s.  1.    The  impious 
tenets  of  a  dogmatical  sect  were  able  to  silence  the  law 
of  nature.     Socrate^;  was  of  a  cliflerent  opinion ;    tliat 
best  of  philosophers  says,  in  the  Phffilo  of  Plato,  that 
we  are  all  placed  by  Providence  in  our  proper  stations, 
and  no  man  has  a  right  to  desert  his  post.     Aristotle 
calls  suicide  the  act  of  a  timid,  not  of  a  noMo  mind.     It 
was  the  maxim  of  Pytha2;oras,  that  \>  itliuut  leave  from 
the  commander  in  chief,  that  is  from  God,  it  is  uiiLiwful 
to  quit  our  post ;  and  Cicero,  who  records  that  excellent 
doctrine  (De  Senedule)  says,  in  another  place,  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  good  and  pious,  to  keep  the  soul  in  its 
tenement  of  clay  ;  and,  without  the  order  of  him  who 
gave  it,  no  one  should  rush  out  of  this  life,  lest  he  incur 
the  guilt  of  rejecting  the  gift  of  providence.     Piis  om- 
nibus  retinendus  est  animus  in  custodid  corporis;   nee 
injussu  ejusy  a  quo  ilk  est  vobis  datiis,  ex  hominam  xild 
mi^ratidiwi  est,  ne  munus  huynamim  assignalum  a  Deo 
dejugisse  xideamini.    Somnium  Scipionis,  s.  vii.     Since 
the  law  of  nature,  speaking  in  the  human  heart,  was  not 
attended  to,  no  wonder  that  the  voice  of  a  few  philo- 
sophers was  not  heard.     The  Pagans  required  the  light 
of  Revelation. 

(6)  We  have  seen  Mamercus  Scaurus  marked  as  a 
victim,  this  book  s.  ix.  Seneca  says  he  was  designed 
by  nature  for  a  great  orator,  but  he  fell  short,  owing  to 
his  own  neglect.  Scire  posses,  non  quantum  oratoreni 
prcestaret  Scaurus,  sed  quantum  desereret.  Controv.  lib. 
V.  in  Praifalione.  Dio  informs  us,  that  the  tragedy  for 
which  he  was  accused,  was  founded  on  the  story  of 
Atreus  ;  and  that  Tiberius,  thinking  himself  glanced  at, 
said,  Since  he  makes  me  another  Atreus,  I  will  make 

VOL.  II,  K  K 


498  KOTES  on  THE 

Lim  an  Ajax,  meanina:,  ^^^t  lie  -would  force  liim  to  de- 
stroy himself.     Dio,  lib.  Iviii. 

((■)  The  Avife  of  Driisn.s,  the  son  of  Tiberius.  See  (he 
Genealogical  Table,  No.  71. 

Seclion  XXX  7. 

(n)  La  Bletterie  in  liis  notr,  at  the  openino^  of  this 
year,  says,  Since  Tacitus  has  sjiven  the  history  of  the 
phenix,  he  thinks  an  arconnt  of  the  extraordinary  crov/, 
that  for  a  lon^  time  amused  the  peoj  le  of  Rome,  will 
not  be  unacceptable  to  the  reader.  He  gives  the  ^vholc 
detail  from  Pliny  the  elder.  The  crow,  it  seems,  be- 
longed to  a  shoemaker,  and  was  soon  tanght  to  articu- 
late v.ords.  It  went  every  morning  to  the  Rostrum, 
and  tlicre  distinctly  pronounced.  Good  day,  Tiberius! 
Good  day,  Germanicus  !  Good  day,  Drusus !  This  con- 
timied  for  several  years.  The  bird  was  at  last  killed  by 
another  siioeraaker  in  the  neighbourhood,  who  fell  a 
s  icrifice  to  the  resentment  of  the  populace.  The  bird 
Avas  afterwards  buried  near  the  Aj;pian  road  with  the 
greatest  parade,  and  a  long  procession  of  Roman  citi- 
zens.    See  Pliny,  lib.  x.  cap.  43. 

(/;)  Snetonius  says,  Tiberius  was  severely  Inshed  in  a 
letter  from  Artabanus,  king  of  the  Parthians,  upbraiding 
him  witli  parricide,  murder,  cowardice,  and  luxury ; 
«Tid  advising  him  to  expiate  his  guilt  by  a  voluntary 
death.     In  Tib.  s.  66. 

(c)  Artaxias  III.  who  was  seated  on  the  throne  of 
Armenia  by  Germanicus.     See  book  ii.  s.  56  and  64. 

(,'0  Vonones  was  dejiosed  by  the  Armenians,  and 
obliged  to  take  refuge  at  Pmnpeiopolis,  a  maritime  city 
of  Cilicia.     Annals,  book  ii.  s.  4  and  58, 


SIXTH   BOOK   OF  THE   ANNALS.        499 

(e)  The  custom  of  advancing  eunuchs  to  the  highest 
stations,  has  been,  in  all  ages,  a  custom  v»ith  the  prinues 
of  the  east. 

(/)  He  was  the  son  of  Phraates  IV.  and  had  been 
fent  by  his  father  as  an  hostage  to  Augustus.  Aunals, 
book  ii.  s.  I. 

Section  XXXI r. 

(a)  L.  Vitellius  was  consul  in  the  preceding  year.  See 
this  book,  s.  28,  and  note  (a).  In  his  administration  of 
Syria,  he  conducted  himself  with  integrity  and  wisdom; 
and  on  his  return  to  Rome,  he  tliought  it  the  best  policy 
to  atone  for  his  virtues  by  the  practice  of  every  vice. 
He  gave  rise  to  the  worshipping  of  Caligula  as  a  God- 
He  approached  that  emperor  with  liis  face  veiled,  and 
fell  prostrate  at  liis  feet.  Caligula  received  tiie  impious 
homage,  and  forgave  Viteliius  all  his  merit  in  the  east. 
He  ranked  him  among  his  favourites.  Caligula  wished 
to  have  it  thought  that  he  was  a  lover  of  the  Moon,  and 
highly  favoured  by  that  goddess.  He  appealed  to 
Viteliius  as  an  eye-witness  of  his  intrigue:  "  Sir,  said 
*'  the  courtier,  when  you  gods  are  in  conjunction,  you 
"  are  invisible  to  mortal  eyes."  In  the  following  reiuri, 
to  secure  the  favour  of  Claudius,  who  was  the  easy  dupe 
of  his  wives,  he  requested  it  as  tlie  greatest  favour  of 
Messalina,  that  she  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  let 
him  take  off"  her  shoes.  His  petition  was  grante;'. 
Viteliius  carried  the  shoes  to  his  own  house,  and  made 
it  his  constant  practice  to  kiss  them  before  company. 
He  worbhipped  the  golden  imi'.ges  of  Narcissus  and 
Pallas,  and  ranked  them  with  his  household  gods.  When 
Claudius  celebrated  the  secular  games,  which  were  to  be 
ttt  the  end  of  every  century  (see  book  xi.  s.  II),  he  car- 

K  K  i!? 


500  ^OTES  ON  THE 

liet]  his  adulation  so  far,  as  f  o  say  to  the  emperor,  ^'  May 
*'  you  oficn  pcrfoiin  this  ceremony!"  Sccpe  facias.  It 
may  be  said  of  him,  that  he  left  his  virtues  in  his  pro- 
vince, and  at  Rome  resumed  his  vices.  Sec  Suet,  in 
Vitell.  s.  ii. 

Section  XXXIII. 

(a)  The  Etesian  wind,  or  the  Norlh-east,  begins  in 
tlie  beiz:inning  of  July,  and  blows  during  tlie  dog-days. 
The  Hihernus  Ausler,  the  Soiflh-zi:est,  continues  during 
the  winter. 

Section  XXXIV. 

(a)  Phrvxus  was  the  first  tliat  sailed  to  Colchos  in 
pursuit  of  riches.  Jason  went  afterwards  on  the  same 
errand,  which  was  called  the  Golden  Fleece. 

Section  XXX VII. 

(a)  Rivers  were  supposed  to  have  their  presiding 
deity,  and  were  therefore  w  orshipped  by  the  Persians  and 
the  Oriental  nations  as  well  as  by  the  Romans. 

(b)  Tiberius  ended  the  Dalmatic  war,  A.  U.  C.  76.". 
(r)  Sec  the  Geographical  Table. 

Section  XXXVIII. 

(a)  A  virulent  prosecutor.  Sec  book  ii.  s.  28.  lie 
•was  consul  with  Memmius  Regulus,  fiom  August  to  the 
end  of  the  year  784.     See  book  v.  Supplement,  s.  29. 

Section  XXXIX. 
(.0  Trebellicnus  Rufus   was  made  guardian  io  the 
children  of  Cotys,  the  Thracian  king.     Book  ii.  s.  07. 
For  P.-.conianus,  see  this  book,  s.  3  and  4. 

(b)  Poppjeus  Sabinus  was  consul  in  the  time  of  Au- 
gustus, A.  U.C.7G2.  He  commanded  ijiMa:sia,Achaia, 


SIXTH  BOOK  OF  I'HE  ANNALS.       501 

and    Macedonia,    and    obtained    triumphal   lionoiirs. 
Book  i.  s.  80. 

Section  XL. 

(a)  Tbis  was  done,  that,  under  colour  of  dying  by  the 
hands  of  tlie  executioner,  his  goods  might  be  conlis- 
cated.     See  in  this  book,  s.  29. 

(b)  Josephus  mentions  this  fact.  He  says,  Tigranes 
"was  grandson  (o  Herod. 

(c)  Caius  Galba  was  brother  to  Galba,  afterwards 
emperor. 

((/)  See  the  Genealogical  Table,  No.  83  and  SL 

Section  XLH. 

(a)  See  the  Geographical  Table. 
(h)  The  office  of  Surena  was  in  point  of  dignity  next 
to  the  prince. 

Section  XLY. 

(f/)  Houses,  detached  entirely,  and  contiguous  to  no 
other  building,  were  called  insulated  houses. 

{h)  See  this  book,  s.  20.  Suetonius  says,  she  died  in 
child-bed.  Life  of  Calig.  s.  xii.  The  inirigue  with 
Ennia  is  there  related  in  a  manner  somewhat  different. 

Section  XL VI. 

(a)  Hereditary  succession  was  unknown  to  the  Ro' 
mans.  L'nder  colour  of  preserving  ancient  forms,  the 
senate  was  still  supposed  to  be  the  depositary  of  the 
public  mind,  and,  in  case  of  a  demise,  the  prince  was 
elective.  The  legions  soon  usurped  the  right  of  naming 
a  successor.  TheCaesarean  line,  as  long  as  ii  lasted,  was 
respected  by  the  army.  After  the  death  of  Nero,  the 
last  of  the  C^sars,  wars  fierce  and  bloody  were  the  con- 

4 


-502  NOTES  ON  THE 

sequence.  The  states  of  Europe,  during  several  cen- 
turies, experienced  similar  convulsions,  till,  in  more  en- 
lightened times,  the  nature  of.  civil  government  being 
better  understood,  heredilarv  succession  was  established 
for  the  benefit  of  mankind.  See  more  on  this  subject, 
^Memoirs  of  the  Academy  of  Belles  Lettres,  vol.  xix. 

(b)  This  was  the  son  of  Drusus,  Avho  had  been  cut  off 
by  Sejanus.     Book  iv.  s.  8.     lie  was  afterwards  put  to 
death  by  Caligula  ;  see  Suet,  in  Calig.  s.  23.     Caligula 
himself  died  by  the  assassin's  dagger.     Suet,   in  Calig. 
s.  58. 

(c)  Plutarch,  in  his  Tract  on  the  Art  of  preserving 
Health,  says,  he  himself  heard  Tiberius  say,  that  the 
man  who  at  sixty  wanted  the  advice  of  a  physician,  must 
be  absurd  and  ridiculous.  Tacitus,  with  greater  proba- 
bility, confines  the  maxim  to  the  age  of  thirty  ;  and  he 
is  confirmed  by  Suetonius,  in  Tib.  s.  68. 

Section  XLVII. 

(fl)  For  Publius  Vitcllius,  see  book  v.  s.  8.  Tiie 
translator  is  sorry  to  find,  that,  by  some  inadvertence,  a 
mistake  has  crept  into  the  text.  It  is  said,  Vitcllius  and 
Olho  became  open  enemies  ;  but  V^itellius  was  dead.  It 
should  be  Bat>bus  and  Otho.  Balbus  was  the  accuser 
of  Acutia,  and  he  lost  his  reward  by  the  intercession  of 
the  tribune. 

{b)  Salrius  Secundus  had  been  the  active  agent  of 
Sejanus  ;  see  book  iv.  s.  3i.     But  he  ruined  his  j)atrou 
in  the  end  ;  see  book  v.  Supplemenl,  s.  27  ;  and  book  vi. 
s.  8. 

Section  XLIX. 

Caj  Brotier  thinks  he  was  one  of  the  consuls  for  the 
preceding  year :  but  as  he  is  in  this  place  said  to  be  a 


SIXTH  BOOK  OF  THE   ANNALS.        505 

young  man,  seduced  by  the  arts  of  a  wicked  mother,  it 
is  not  probable  that  he  ever  rose  to  the  conbulship. 

Section  L. 

(m)  We  are  told  by  Plutarch,  that  this  villa,  formerly 
the  property  of  Caius  Marius,  was  purchased  by  Lu- 
cuUus  at  an  immense  price.  Plutarch,  Life  of  Marius. 
Jjrotier  says,  the  ruins  are  still  to  be  seen,  near  the  pro- 
montory of  Misenum. 

Section  LI. 

(a)  Vclleius  Paterculus  has  said  the  same  thing  with 
great  elegance  and  equal  truth.  Lib.  ii.  s.  103,  106, 
1 14.  It  is  in  his  account  of  the  reign  of  Tiberius,  that  the 
adulation  of  that  historian  betrays  a  want  of  veracity. 


END  OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME. 


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